


§mmi 






LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, % 



Chap. 
Shelf 






P UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



MEMORIAL 



CAPT. GEO. IlENKY PREBLE, U.S.N. 



FORTY-THIRD CONGRESS. 



1 



WITH A.3Sr -A-PFENDIX, 



CONTAINING THE 



ACTIOI^ OF COI^GEESS 



AND EXTKACTS FKOM 



coiisra-RuftL.TXJiiA.TOK.'sr letters. 




BOSTON: '' 
FOR PRIVATE DISTRIBUTION. 

187 4. 



FIFTY COPIES. 



■r93 



e4^.s& 



David Clapp & Son, Printers-. 



The within Memorial having achieved its object, I have added to 
the limited number of copies remaining in my hands an Appendix 
containing the action of Congress, and extracts from congratulatory 
letters since its adjournment. The latter will show my friends how 
universal was the sentiment in the Navy, as well as out of and 
beyond it, that I had been wronged, and have only been restored to 
the place my services entitle me to. I scarcely need say the personal 
congratulations received have been much more numerous than the 
written ones. 

I would have it understood that this pamphlet is not for general 
circulation, but for the gratification of a few interested friends, and 
for preservation in the libraries of historical societies with my former 
pamphlet, printed in 1862 — "The Chase of the Oreto" — as my 
defence against the aspersions of any future "Boynton" historians. 

"A stern chase is (proverbially) a long chase." It is much easier 
to create a wrong than to correct one, and mine has been no 
exceptional case ; for it is only after years of persistent effort, and 
obtaining redress step by step, that the wrong done me has hQ^wftiUy 
and completely righted. 

When in 1862, while yet in command of the "Oneida," off Mobile 
Bay, Commander (now Rear Admiral) James Alden, endeavoring to 
break to me the news of my summary dismissal from the service, 
said to me : — 

"Preble, the newspapers are down on you for letting the Oreto 
run the blockade," — My reply was : — 

" I expected they would be, until the truth of the matter is known." 

"But the Navy Department is very savage against you." 

" I cannot help it. I regret it, but when all the facts are known, it 
will exonerate me." 



" But it is reported that you are dismissed the service." 

"In that case I will have to be restored to it, for I have done 
exactly what any other officer in my place would and ought to have 
done." 

A few minutes later, Commodore Henry H. Bell, who had just 
arrived on the blockade in the Brooklyn, placed in my hands a 
New-York Herald containing the Secretary's letter of dismissal, the 
official order not having yet reached the squadron. I then and there 
resolved I would never cease my efforts to obtain justice, and I have 
never since faltered a moment in that determination. Sure I was in 
the right, I have been held up by an ever-abiding faith that sooner 
or later I would obtain the success I have, after many disheartening 
discouragements and delays, at last secured. 

I would take this opportunity to express my grateful obligations to 
the Hon. D. W. Gooch, from Massachusetts, of the House, and to the 
Hon. Hannibal Hamlin and the Hon. Lot M. Morrell, Senators from 
Maine, for the successful result of this Memorial. But for the active 
and energetic action of Mr. Gooch, who had no other acquaintance 
with me than a ten minutes' interview in his office in Boston, a few 
days before the 43d Congress assembled, and was moved to act in my 
behalf solely from what he deemed, after a careful examination of the 
subject, the justice of my demand, I am convinced my bill would 
not have gone through the Naval Committee of the House, or have 
passed, after the unexpected adverse report in the Senate from a 
committee which had twice the previous session unanimously 
reported it favorably to the Senate. 

But for the untiring attention and watchfulness of Mr. Hamlin, and 
the influence of Mr. Morrell as a member of the Senate Naval 
Committee, I am quite sure, notwithstanding its admitted justice, the 
House Bill would not have been reported back from the Senate 
Committee. To Mr. Hamlin I am in particular indebted for calling 
the bill up, after it had been reported favorably, in the last hours of 
the session, when it seemed inevitable it must go over among the 
unfinished business to the next session of Congress. 

To all who gave me their vote, or influence and sympathy, whether 
in or out of Congress, I would return my thanks. 



To me, the most gratifying feature of my restoration to my original 
place, is the almost universal expression it has called forth from navy 
officers that it w^as my due, and that, with one or two exceptions, 
those who were promoted over me in iS66 have expressed, either in 
writing or personally, their gratification at my success. 

The law of July, 1866, which specially promoted officers " for 
faithful and efficient services throughout the war," was, in my 
opinion, a most pernicious precedent. I never yet heard of an 
officer who objected to the promotion of another for gallant conduct 
which was specified, as were Admirals Farragut, Porter, Winslow 
and Worden, Lieut. Commander Gushing and others ; but at the close 
of a great war, where all it was to be supposed had aimed to do their 
duty, it was a mortification, if not an insult, to every good officer to 
be passed over in the selection, and but little honor to those 
selected, while it was the cause of invidious comparisons of service 
and heart-burnings. It is to be hoped such another law may never 
be enacted. 

In all kindness and respect for the Board of Admirals, I would say 
that Advisory and other Boards which act upon a judgment based upon 
documentary evidence alone, without calling the officer concerned 
befoi-e them to hear his explanation of the documents, — especially if 
they are documents he has never seen, — cannot be as correct in their 
judgment as they ouglit and might be, and such a judgment should 
not be accepted as a finality. 

Philadelphia Navy- Yard, 

August 26, 1874. 



MEMORIAL 



CAPT. GEO. HENRY PREBLE, U.S.N. 



:ffivnt Btmimi 



FORTY-TIIIED COI^GRESS. 



1873-4, 



PRINTED BY 

DAVID CLAPP & SON, 
334 Washington Street, 

33ostan. 



]yiEMOIlIA.L. 



To the Sonorahle United States Senate^ and House 
of Mepresentatives, in Congress assembled: 

The undersigned, George Henry Precle, a Captain on 
the Active List of the Navy of the United States, respectfully 
petitions your Honorable bodies that you will authorize and request 
the President of the United States, should he deem it just and pro- 
per to do so, to nominate him the said Capt. Geo. Henry Preble to 
be a Commodore on the Active List of the Navy next below Com- 
modore Edward Donaldson, and thus restore him to the same rela- 
tive position on the Navy Register he had occupied throughout 
thirty-one years of honorable service, up to, and until the special 
promotions of July 25, 1866. 

Your petitioner would respectfully state that the advisory Board 
of Admirals convened under a resolution of Congress, approved 
July 1, 1870, to consider alleged instances of injustice committed 
by those promotions, reported in his case that his services through 
the war " were of the highest order," but failed to recommend his 
restoration because the "Orcto" run through his blockade into 
Mobile Bay, inasmuch as he had not been acquitted by a court mar- 
tial — an oiFence, " whether real or sui)posed," for which he had been 
severely punished and condoned, and for which he had several times 
unavailingly requested that a Court Martial or Court of Liquiry 
might be convened to ascertain the measure of his delinquency on 
that occasion. Since the report of the Advisory Board, a Court of 
Inquiry, convened at his request, by the Hon. George M. Robeson, 



Secretary of the Ncavy, composed mainly of the officers of the Advi- 
sory Board, and wliich, had not sickness prevented, would have been 
wholly composed of the members of said Board, has acquitted him 
of all blame in that matter, and pronounced his offence a venial 
one. Yet as the result of those special promotions, and the placing 
so many of his juniors in rank and age over him, your petitioner, 
unless restored,, will retire from active service without reachinir a flaof 
rank — a punishment greater than any Court Martial has adjudged 
for the gravest of offences. 

Your petitioner would farther state that by the act of relief, ap- 
proved May 28, 1872, all other recommendations of the Board of 
Admirals have been acceded to and confirmed, and the officers 
restored to their original positions as claimed by them. 

Your petitioner therefore prays you will authorize the President to 
restore him to the rank and position which he considers his "faithful 
and efficient" war services entitle him to, and of which he believes 
himself to be unjustly deprived. He confidently refers you to the 
record of his services placed before the Advisory Board, and on file 
at the Navy Department, to substantiate his claim ; also to the full 
record of the proceedings of the recent Court of Inquiry, and to the 
testimonials, &c., to his services, and character and standing as an 
officer, herewith appended. 



Geo. Henry Preble, Capt. U.S.JSf. 



Navy Tard, Charledoion, 3Iass. 
Dec. 1, 1873. 



LETTERS, DOCUMENTS AND TESTIMONIALS, 



ACCOMPANYING 



CAPT. GEO. HENRY PREBLE'S 

Petition to the Senate and House of Rejyresentatives of the United States, for 

his Restoration to the Rank and Position of which he ivas 

deprived by the Special Promotions of July 25, 18G6. 



Extracts from Letters asking for a Court Martial or 
Court of Inquiry. 



G. H. Preble to the Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy. 

Oct. 8th, 1862. 

* * "I therefore ask for a full and fair investigation before a 
Court of Inquiry or Court Martial, and that the decision or sentence 
may be made as freely public as your order." 

G. H. Preble to Admiral Far rag at, U.S.JV. 

Oct. 8th, 1862. 

* * " The poorest boy or man in the service has for his petty 
offences, the priA'ilege of a summary Court Martial and a hearing. 
Through you I respectfully request from the Department a Court of 
Inquiry into my conduct on this occasion, and which I would 
willingly have extended through my whole term of service in the 
Navy. Confident of a clean record, I court a full and complete 
investigation.'^ 



6 

Hear Admiral Farragut, U.S.N., to the Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary 

of the Navy. 

Flag Ship " Hartford," Oct. 8th, 1862. 
* * " I hope that the Department will grant Commander Preble 
a hearing; before a Court Martial or Court of Inquiry, so as to enable 
him to show his country and his family that he has not sullied the 
brilliant escutcheon of his uncle by any want of fidelity to his country. 
I sincerely trust the President as well as yourself may be prevailed 
upon to grant this favor to one who has served his country faithfully, 
Avith unblemished character up to the moment of this unfortunate 
occurrence." 



G. H. PreUe to President Lincoln. 

U. S, Steam Sloop " Oneida," 

Off Mobile, Oct. 8th, 1862. 

* * "I demand, therefore, a fair, full, and instant investigation 

of all the circumstances before a Court of Inquiry." 



Rear Admiral Farragut, U.S.N., to G. H. Prehle. 

Oct. 28th, 1862." 

* * "I hope the Department Avill give you a hearing before a 
proper tribunal. * * * j X^r^xa stated all these facts to the Hon. 
Secretary of the Navy, and asked him to allow you a Court of 
Inquiry or Court Martial." 

G. H. Prehle to the Hon. Secretary of the Navy. 

Cambridge, Mass., Jan. 3d, 1863. 

* * "I now respectfully request I may be restored to the Navy, 
and that I may be tried by Court Martial as soon as the service will 
admit of it." 



G. H. PreUe to the Hon. F. A. Pike, Chairman of the Naval Committee of 
, the House. 

Charlestown, Mass., June 22d, 1868. 
* * * " When I was dismissed and in my first appeal to 
the Pi'csident, Secretary, and Admiral, I asked for and urged my 
right to a Court ^Martial, where all the facts could be shown, but the 
Secretary told me I could not have one as 1 loas no longer in the 
service. After my restoration, I again asked for such a Court, but 
Avithout eliciting any reply. I would be glad, were it practicable, to 
have Congress order a Court Martial, and intend, whenever there is 
any change of administration in the Department, to renew my appli- 
cation for a Court Martial or a C\iurt of Inquiry, in order that my 
honor, my zeal and my professional character may be fully vindicated. 



G. H. Preble to Vice- Admiral D. D. Porter, U.S.N. 

U. S. S. " Pensacola," off .San Francisco, 
March J 5th, 1869. 

* * " When I was dismissed, in my first appeals to tlie Presi- 
dent and Secretary of tlic Navy, and to the Admiral, I asked for, 
and urged my ri(/ht to a Court Martial when all the facts could be 
shown ; but the Secretary himself told me I could not be tried as I 
was no longer in the service. After my restoration to the service, I 
asked again for a Court, but my request was not even acknowledged. 
I believe it is now too late to have a Court of Inquiry, otherivise 
I would renew that application. I am sure I could completely 
exonerate myself from all blame." 



G. H. Preble to the Hon. A. E. Borie, Secretary of the Navy. 

U. S. Flag S. " Pensacola," 
Mare Island, April 19th, 1869. 

* * "I would therefore respectfully request that my record 

of service may be impartially re-examined, confident of the result." 



G. H. Preble to the Hon. Geo. M. Robeson, Secretary of the Navy. 

Charlestown, Mass., Nov. 13th, 1869. 

* * "I will state, I would not have accepted my commission 
liad I not thought I was honorably restored to my old rank, 
Avhich if subject to a loss of pay and suspension from it I could 
not have been, and that I have on all p)7'oper occasions iirged an 
investigation of the conduct that occasioned inij dismissal from 
the JSTavy, by a Court of Inquiry or Court Martial." 

Charlestown, Mass., Feb. 11th, 1870. 

* * " My desire is that a full, fair and searching examination 
of my record throughout the war may be made." 

Capt. G. H. Preble to Vice-Aibniral S. G. Rowan, U.S.N. 

U. S. N. Rendezvous, Navy Yard, Boston, Mass., 
January 30th, 1871. 

Sir, 

I have received the circular of the Plon. Secretary of the 
Navy, dated January 24th, 1871, and agreeably thereto respectfully 
request that my claims for restoration to rank may have early con- 
sideration by the Board of which you are the President, agreeably 
to my letter of September 13th, 1870, addressed to the Hon. Secre- 
tary of the Navy. 

I believe the files of the Navy Department contain abundant evi- 
dence in support of my claim, but should the Board deem otherwise, 
or if it will in any way facilitate or hasten its action in my case, I 



8 

respectfully request that you will order or summons me to appear 
before it, to support my claim in person. 

Should a statement of my services be required, I am ready to 
furnish it. 

Very Respectfully, 

Your Ob't Servant, 

Geo. Henry Preble, 

Captain U.S.N. 



Capt. G. H. Prehle to the Hon. Geo. 31. Roheson, Secretary of the Navy. 

Naval Kendezvous, 
Boston Navy Yard, 
Feb. 1, 1872. 

Sir, 

Having learned that the Advisory Board has failed to recom- 
mend my restoration, and "while satisfied with my zeal and gallantry 
in several battles, they did not feel authorized to reverse the decisions 
and opinions of the heads of the government in the absence of a 
direct acquittal by a competent Court composed of my peers " — 

I now respectfully request you to order a Court whose duty it 
shall be to examine into my whole record of service during the war, 
including the "Oreto" affair, or that you will refer the same back to 
the Advisory Board, permitting me to appear before it and call for 
persons and papers. 

It is through no fault of mine that such a Court was not con- 
vened long ago, as my several applications on file at the Navy De- 
partment will show. I court the fullest investigation, and waive any 
right from limitations from the time that has passed since my alleged 
oflPence, and the fact that the United States Senate, the highest tribu- 
nal of the country, has twice by its vote confirmed the report of 
its Naval Committee that my restoration to the service was " a con- 
donatio7i of any real or supposed offence I may have committed." 
I am proud of my war record, and heartily wish to be purified from 
all suspicion of not having done my whole duty faithfully and eflS- 
ciently, and to the best of my abilities. 

Very Respectfully, 

Your Ob't Servant, 
To Hon. Geo. M. Robeson, Geo. Henry Preble, 

Secretary of the Navy. Captain U.S.N. 



Letters and Papers relating to the "Oreto" Affair. 

A7iswe7's of Admiral D. G. Farraguf, U. S. N., to the Interrogatories addressed him 
by the Board of Examiners ivhen they had under consideration the Promotion of 
Commander Geo. Henry Preble to Captain, Feb. 11, 1867. 

I HAVE known Commander George 11. Preble, U. S.N., since 1862. 
Commander Preble served with me in the West Gulf Squadron, first 
in command of the gun boat " Katahdin," in which vessel he passed 
Forts Jackson and St. Philip, in our attack of the 24th of April, 1862; 
and did good service afterwards on the Mississippi in that vessel, and 
subsequently in the "Oneida," to which he was transferred in the 
summer of 1862, when Commander S. P. Lee was ordered home. 

While in command of the "Oneida," and in charge of the blockade 
of Mobile, he permitted the i-ebel privateer "Oreto" to pass in, for 
which he was censured and punished by the Department. The 
"Oreto" approached him under English colors, and, believing her to 
be an English man-of-war, he was not undeceived until it was too late 
to destroy her before she got out of reach of his guns. This unfor- 
tunate occurrence I attributed to an over anxiety to avoid involving 
our government by tiring into an English man-of-war. 

I always considered Commander Preble an excellent officer, atten- 
tive and vigilant in the discharge of his duties, with his ship ever in 
good order and ready for service. I never heard a word against 
Commander Preble's moral character or habits. From my opportuni- 
ties of judging of the general intelligence and capacity of Commander 
Preble, I do consider him mentally qualified for promotion, and from 
his services under me I think I can form an estimate of his professional 
fitness for promotion. I never had anything against him except in 
the case stated (the "Oreto" aflair) in my answer to Interrogatory 
No. 2. 

In reply to the Interrogatory — " Would you as commander of a 
squadron have sufficient confidence in Commander Preble to send him 
on an important separate service in command of a vessel of war?" 
Admiral Farragut replied : It would depend upon the kind of service. 
Commander Preble has shown a degree of caution with respect to 
responsibilities that would forbid me sending him on an important 
separate service which required the assumption of great responsibility ; 
but if the duty simply required an energetic display of courage I 
should have no hesitation. 

Note. — I was not present wlien these answers were received by the Board of 
Examinci's, and requested tlie Hon. Secretary of the Navy to furnish me with a 
copy of them. Under date, "Navy Department, April 5, 1867," he replied: 
"The Department declines to furnish you, as requested, with copies of the 
answers given by Admiral Farragut to the interrogatories addressed to him b^^ the 
Board in your case, it being contrary to the practice of the Department to permit 
copies of such character to be furnished." 

On a change in the administration of the Navy Department, I made a second 
application, which was successful ; when I at once addressed a letter to Admiral 
Farragut, taking exception to his reply to one of the interrogatories, which 
produced from him the following letter withdrawing the opinion he had therein 
expressed : — o. u. f. 



10 

Letter from Admiral D. G. Farragut, U. S. N., ivithdrawinc/ his opinion as 
expressed in his Answer to the last Interrogatory. 

New York, Jan. 10, 1870. 

Sir, — I have received your letter and the papers in relation to the 
"Oreto" affair, and also upon the subject of your restoration to your 
original position in the Navy Register, &c. 

Although I can discover nothing therein to reflect upon your 
character, as an officer, or to justify the harsh sentence in your case, 
excepting my words about "entrusting you with a separate com- 
mand," which was based upon the belief that you were not 
sufficiently prompt at the time, yet 1 now loillingly ivithdraw that 
opinion, inasmuch as I loerceive, from the report of Captain Maffitt, 
that you injured his vessel far more than ive had believed, and that if you 
had had a sufficient quantify of steam you would doubtless have captured 
her. 

Ccipt. Geo. Henry Preble, U.S.N. 



Letter from the Secretary of Admiral Farragut to Capt. Geo. Henry Preble. 

Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. 2, 1870. 
Captain, — Your two letters of July 8, one addressed to Admiral 
Farragut and the other to myself, would have been acknowledged 
more promptly had not the former been far too unwell to comply 
with the request you have made in reference to his promised letter. 
I therefore postponed a reply in hopes that I could be enabled to 
obtain from him the desired certificate; but I am sorry to say that the 
Admiral is still confined to his bed by a severe illness, and, of course, 
is powerless in the matter of business. I entertain strong hopes that 
he will recover sufficiently to fulfil all the assurances he has given, 
and I am sure that should such be the case, he will be very glad to 
forward his revised opinion of the "Oreto" aftair to the Board about 
to be established to examine into the cases of officers who consider 
themselves unjustly overslaughed. 

I knoxv that he is desirous of doing you full and impartial justice, 
for he has often spoken of the matter, and as often declared his 
intention to represent you properly before this Board ; and should his 
health permit him to carry out his wishes, I assure you it will give 
me very great pleasure to send you a copy of his letter to the 
Department. And 1 beg you to feel assured that amongst the first of 
his official acts upon his recovery will be the statement he has 
promised you. 

I am. Captain, 
Ver}^ truly and respectfully yours, 

Jas. E. Montgomery, 

Scc'y Adni'l Fariairut. 
Capt. Geo. Henry Preble, U.S.N. 

U. S. S. "Pensacola," Mare Island, Cal. 

Note. — Admiral Farragut had deceased on tlie irMi of August, bcforg tliis letter 
■was received by me. — g. n. v. 



11 

Affidavit of las. E. Montgomery, Esq., late Secretary of Admiral D. G. Farragut. 

Xew York, April 19, 1S72. 
I, James E. ICoxTGOMERr, of the City of Xew York, hereby dechi,re 
that, from Xov. 15, 186S, until Aug. 14. 1870, 1 was the Secretary of 
the late Admiral D. G. Farragut, IJ. S. Xavy: that frequently during 
that time the said Admiral expressed his views upon the subject of 
the escape of the Rebel Cruiser "Oreto" at Mobile Bay, and the 
action of Captain Geo. Henry Preble in permitting her escape ; that 
upon all those occasions the said Admiral stated, that a thorough 
investigation into the circumstances, with the additional report of 
Captain Maffitt, of the Rebel Navy, to the effect that his vessel, the 
"Oreto," had been seriously damaged by Captain Preble's fire, had 
convinced him that the said Captain Prehle had done all in his power la 
capture the "Oreto," and that his failure to do so ivas owing to a icant 
of a sufficient quantity of steam, and not to any want of promptitude on 
the part of that officer. Furthermore I declare that shortly before his 
decease, the said Admiral Farragut directed me to remind him to 
write such a certificate as the above to the Department in behalf of 
the said Captain Preble, as soon as he was sufficiently recovered to 
do so. Respectfully submitted, 

JaS. E. MoXTGOilERT, 

Sec'y late Admiral Farragut. 
Cltr, Conntv and ) co 
State of New York, S 

The undersigned, James E. Montgomery, being duly sworn, deposes 
and says that the contents of the foregoing statements are true of his 
own knowledge. Jas. E. Moxtgomert. 

Sworn, and subscribed before me, this 25th day of April. 1872. 

Wir. H. Butler, Notary Public. 

New York Cirv and Couutv, 



'^Report of the Board of Admirals.'' 

The Board, after a careful examination and consideration of the 
accompanying papers submitted by Capt. Geo. Ilenrv Preble, and 
marked "A," "B," "C," "D," "E," "F," "G," "H," "I" and 
"K," together with copies of papers, and his record taken from the 
files of the Department by the Board, and marked Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 
6, T, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16, all of which are hereunto 
annexed: do find that Captain Preble's services during the war, with 
one or two exceptions, were of the highest order, but that he made a 
grave mistake in not firing into the Rebel Steamer "Oreto" sooner, 
thereby, in the opinion of the Board, failed to capture that vessel, and 
lost his claim for promotion bv selection under the law, approved 
July 25, 1866. 

The Board therefore do not recommend Captain Preble for 
restoration to his original position in the Xavy List. 

(Signed) S. C. Rowax, 

Vice Admiral and President of the Board. 

True Copy. (Signed) Theodorus Bailet, 

CniS. H. Poor Jr. Kear Admiral and Member. 

Recorder. (Signed) Wm. Radford, 

Rear Admiral and Member. 



12 

Extract from, a private Letter from Rear Admiral Theodorus Bailey, U. S. N. 

Washington, Jan. 29, 1872. 

"Dear Captain, — You are right, the Board failed to recommend 
your restoration * * * Whilst satisfied with your zeal and 
gallantry in several battles, the Board did not feel authorized to 
reverse the decisions and opinions of the heads of the Government, 
in the absence of a direct acquittal by a competent court composed 
of your peers.'' * * * 

Note. — See my repeated applications for a Court such as the Advisory Board 
deemed essential. I had never seen the letters and opinions retl-rred to by Rear 
Admiral Bailey. 

On the receipt of this letter I renewed my application for a Court Martial or 
Court of Inquiry — when the Hon. Secretary of the Navy issued the following order 
for a Court of Inquiry to consider the amount of my " culpability " iu the escape 
of the "Oreto" into Mobile. g. n. p. 



Order convening the Court of Inquiry. 

Navy Department, April 12, 1872. 
By virtue of authority contained in the Act for the better 
Government of the Navy of the United States, approved July 
17, 1862, you are hereby appointed President; Rear Admiral Wm. 
Eadford and Commodore Jos. F. Green, members ; and Commander 
Jas. W. Shirk, Judge Advocate, of a Naval Court of Inquiry, wliich 
is ordered to convene at the Navy Department, on Saturday, the 20th 
day of April, A. D, 1872, or as soon after as practicable, for the 
purpose of inquiring into the circumstances attending the entrance of 
the Rebel Privateer "Oreto," into the port of Mobile, Alabama, on 
or about the 4th day of September, 1862. 

The Court will diligently investigate the matter referi'ed to them, 
and report to the Department their proceedings, together with their 
opinions as to the degree of culpability, if any, on the part of Capt. 
Geo. Henry Preble, in relation to the escape of that vessel into the 
port of Mobile. 

Given under my hand, this twelfth day of April, eighteen hundred 
and seventy-two, 

Geo. M. Robeson, 

Secretary of the Navy. 
Rear Admiral Theodorus Bailey, U. S. N., 

Washinffton, B.C. 



Extracts from the Testimony of the Principal Witnesses, before the 

Court of Inquiry. 

Testimony of Commander J. S. Thornton, U. S. N., Commander of the U. S. Steam 
Gunboat " Winona,^' Sej^t. 4, 1862. 

Commander James S. Thornton, U. S.N., was called and sworn as a 
witness by the President of the Court, 

Question by the Judge Advocate. — Where were you and in what 
capacity on the 4th day of September, 1862 ? 

Answer. — Commander U. S, Steam Gunboat "Winona," off Mobile, 
on blockade duty. 



13 

Question by the Jxidge Advocate. — Did you witness the running of 
the blockade, oif Mobile, by the Rebel Privateer "Oreto" on that 
day ? If yes, please give to the Court a narrative of that affair as 
witnessed by yourself. 

Answer. — Yes. I was returning to my station at the Swash Channel 
when I was signalled from the "Oneida" to chase to the westward, 
about mid-day or a little after noon. I spoke tlie "Rachel Seaman." 
I signalled to the " Oneida" that the stranger was a friend. I was then 
ordered by signal from the "Oneida" to chase at discretion; the look- 
outs aloft, upon being hailed, discovered black smoke in the south-east 
board. I steered for the black smoke, and discovered it to be a 
steamer standing towards Mobile. As I approached her she hoisted 
an English ensign and pennant, 1 was at quarters, with guns cast 
loose. I ordered the 1st lieutenant to hail the vessel as I approached 
him in passing. He did so, and received in reply, " Iler Britannic 
Majesty's Steamer 'Spitfire,' or 'Vixen,'" I forget which. The 
general appearance of the vessel, and I examined her critically, 
seemed to accord with that class of vessel. I suffered her to pass as 
she was steering for the "Oneida," which ship was coming out from 
her anchorage, oft" Mobile. I was fully under the impression that 
she was an English man-ofwar, desirous of communicating with the 
blockading fleet, and was approaching the "Oneida," which vessel 
carried the commanding, or senior, officer's pennant. I turned and 
followed the "Oreto," and followed her in; she was going very 
rapidly, and as she approached the " Oneida," I heard the report of a 
gun from the "Oneida," and saw the "Oneida" turned in chase. I 
was satisfied at once that the vessel was endeavoring to run the 
blockade, and ordered a shot fired into her ; I thought at the time 
that the shot struck her. I noticed that she altered her course, about 
four points, I should judge, as though she intended to heave to; her 
men were then sent aloft in the rigging, as though to loose sails, but 
the fire from the "Oneida," musketry and heavy guns drove them 
down again. She almost immediately resumed her course and pushed 
rapidly on for the entrance of the harbor. I followed the chase as 
closely as possible, firing at her with the xi. inch gun several times, I 
don't remember how many, until the lead gave soundings in two and 
a half fathoms of water, when I put the helm a-starboard and gave 
up the chase. 

Question by the Court. — What were the orders of the Commander- 
in-Chief in relation to stopping a strange sail approaching the 
blockade, and what was the formula observed ? 

Answer. — I had no special instructions in that respect. 

Question by the Court. — Did Admiral Farragut issue no General or 
Special orders to the Squadron on the subject, to the best of your 
knowledge and belief? 

Answer. — I never received any. 

Question by Cajjtain Preble. — Were you aware at the time of the 
chase of any rebel vessel of war in the vicinity ? 

Answer. — I was not. 

Question by Captain Preble. — When and where did you first learn 
of the "Oreto" and "No. 290" ? 



14 

Answer. — Admiral Farragut informed me that there were two rebel 
vessels afloat that answered the description I gave him of the chase; 
this was at Pensacola, upon the occasion of my reporting to the 
Admiral with Captain Preble's despatch, mentioning the fact of the 
"Oreto's" running the blockade. 



Testimony of Commander Montgomery Sicard, V. S. N., the Executive Officer of 
the " Oneida " durincj the Chase of the " Oreto," Sept. 4, 1862. 

Commander Montgomery Sicard, U. S. N., was then called into 
Court, and sworn as a witness by the President of the Court. 

Question by the Judge Advocate. — Please state your name and rank. 

Answer. — Montgomery Sicard, Commander U. S. Navy. 

Question by the Judge Advocate. — Where and in what capacity were 
you on Sept. 4, 1862? 

Ansiver. — I was in the U. S. S. " Oneida" as Lieiitenant Commander 
and Executive Officer, off the bar of Mobile, on blockade duty. 

Question by the Judge Advocate. — Did you witness the running of 
the blockade on that day by the rebel privateer " Oreto," and if yes, 
please give the Court a narrative of that affair, as witnessed by 
yourself. 

Ansiuer. — I did witness the running of the blockade by the 
rebel steamer "Oreto." About 5 o'clock P.M. on that date, I 
was ordered by Commander Preble to get the "Oneida" under 
way in chase of a steamer standing towards the blockading force 
from the eastward. This vessel was distant some six miles while 
the "Oneida" was getting under way. The stranger was burning 
bituminous coal. At this time steam was up on only one of the 
"Oneida's" boilers, the other being under repair. The order was 
given to get up steam upon this boiler also, when it became 
apparent that the ship would be required to chase or to leave 
her station to meet the stranger. While steaming out towards 
the strange vessel the "Oneida" was prepared for action (the 
U. S. S. "Winona" was in company). When the stranger came 
within about half a mile of the "Oneida" she hoisted the English 
ensign and pennant ; her guns could be plainly seen. When 
quite near the "Oneida" the stranger put her helm gradually to 
port, and sheered to the northward. The " Oneida's" helm was put 
a-starboard, and she followed closely under the stranger's port bow. 
When both vessels had sheered towards the land some distance (the 
land was to the northward), the stranger put his helm to starboard 
gradually, and the "Oneida's" helm being also put a-starboard, the 
two vessels about abeam of each other, distant about one hundred 
yards, stood to the westward. Near the time when the " Oneida's" 
helm was first put a-starboard (the vessels being about one hundred 
and fifty yards distant from each other), by Commander Preble's 
order the 30 pdr. rifle on the forecastle was fired at very short 
intervals across her bow, the shot from the last striking near her fore 
foot ; very shortly after the shotted round. Commander Preble gave 
the order to fire into the stranger. The guns at once commenced, 
and continued their fire as long as they would bear. About the time 
the general fire was commenced, the stranger hauled down the 
English flag. During the firing she loosed her fore-topsail and top- 



15 

gallant-sail, but did not sheet home, her men coming down quickly 
out of tlie rigging. From the time the vessels came parallel to each 
other, steering to the westward, the chase had readied rapidly on. the 
"Oneida," soon the broadside guns would not bear, and shortly even 
the xi. inch pivot guns would not bear without yawing the ship. The 
fire of the "Oneida" was a good deal impeded by the quantity of 
smoke that (with a light following breeze) soon accumulated between 
the vessels ; while watching the working of the guns it occurred to 
me that the forward xi. inch gun was not firing quite as well as usual; 
it had recently a new captain ; aside from this the battery worked as 
usual, the crew being quite accustomed to handle the guns in action. 
As the stranger drew ahead, it soon became apparent that he would 
probably escape ; nevertheless the chase was continued until coming 
upon the edge of the bar. and the approach of night rendered it 
necessary to haul the "Oneida" off. It is my impression that steam 
was not up under the boiler that had been under repair, until the 
chase was virtually over. The U. S. S. "Winona" took part in the 
chase, as did also the U, S. Schooner "Kachel Seaman." It was 
difficult during the critical part of the foregoing chase (that is, before 
the general fire was opened), to know at exactly what speed the 
stranger was running; her propeller being submerged, whenever I 
had an opportunity to notice, made but little disturbance on the 
water. As regards the character of the stranger, it was my opinion, 
up to the time of opening fire upon her, that she was an English 
vessel of war ; and even when Commander Preble gave the order to 
fire into her, I recollect the feeling of doubt passing across my mind 
as to the policy of doing so yet, probably owing to the uncertain 
state of our relations with England, and to the importance of our not 
being burdened — (here a member of the Court objected to the witness 
giving an opinion. The Court was cleared for deliberation, and on 
being re-opened. Commander Montgomery Sicard was recalled into 
Court, and the Judge Advocate amiounced the decision of the Court 
to be : that the witness is allowed to finish the sentence, but in the 
remainder of his testimony is to confine himself to facts and circum- 
stances that came under his observation) — with a foreign war at that 
time. The stranger had not approached the usual position of the 
blockading vessels near the entrance, by about a couple of miles. 
During the firing I thought at one time that the chase had fired a 
return gun, but hearing no projectile, concluded a shell had burst short. 

Queslion by the Judge Advocate. — How long after the "Oneida" 
got under way was it before she was a-beam of the stranger ? 

Answer. — Being very much occupied in preparation of the ship, 
&c., it would be difficult to be accurate, but I think about three- 
quarters of an hour. 

Question by the Judge Advocate. — Did the "Oreto" slacken her 
speed at all in approaching the "Oneida" ? 

Ansice7'. — I could not say. 

Question hy Judge Advocate. — At the time was she moving rapidly? 

Answer. — About ordinary speed, as near as I can remember. She 
did not impress me as going fast at the time. 

Question by Ca2jt. Preble. — Would you have run down or boarded 
the strange steamer, had you been in command ? 

Ansiver. — No. 



16 

Question hy the Judge Advocate. — You state that had you been in 
command you would not under the circumstances have run down or 
boarded the strange steamer. Please give your reason. 

Ansioe7\ — I would have supposed her an English man-of-war, and 
should have thought it advisable to observe her somewhat before 
proceeding to such an extreme measure against a vessel belonging to 
a power with which we were at peace, especially as we were not 
particularly near the entrance to the port. 

Question by ('apt. Preble. — Did you know of any order or 
instruction from the Admiral, with regard to the manner of intercept- 
ing a vessel approaching the blockade ? 

Answer. — No. 



Testimony of John N. Maffitt, the Commander of the Confederate Steamer " Oreto^' 
on Sept. 4, 1862, before the Naval Court of Inquiry, May 6, 1872. 

John Newland Maffitt, Esq., was then introduced into Court and 
Bworn as a witness by the senior officer present and presiding oiScer 
of the Court pro tern. 

Question by Capt, Preble. — What is your name and residence at 
this time ? 

Answer. — John N. Maffitt, near Wilmington, N. C. 

Question by Capt. Preble. — Where were you on the 4th of 
September, 1862, and in what capacity? 

Ansiver. — In command of the Confederate Steamer "Florida," 
approaching the harbor of Mobile. 

Question by Capt. Preble. — Please give a narrative of the facts 
as witnessed by yourself of the "Oreto's" running the blockade on 
that day into Mobile Bay ? 

Ansiver. — She was called the "Florida," not the "Oreto." I 
think it was about three o'clock in the afternoon when Fort Morgan 
was reported in sight and also two steamers, evidently blockade 
steamers. Having determined, if possible, to enter the harbor, I did 
not change my course, but continued to advance. Both of them 
came out to meet me. When quite near the "Oneida" I was hailed 
and ordered to heave to immediately. I should say that a shot was 
fired across .my bow previously to the hail. I declined in response to 
obey the order, and immediately received a broadside, the effect of 
which w^as to carry away all of my hammock nettings and much of my 
standing and running rigging. The superior speed of the "Florida" 
enabled me to pass the " Oneida." She continued her bombardment. 
One xi. inch shell passed through the coal bunkers on the port side, 
struck the port forward boiler, took off one man's head as it passed 
on the berth deck, wounding nine men. If it had exploded, which it 
failed to do, I no doubt would have lost every man in the vessel, 
except the two men at the helm, as I had ordered all the crew below. 
Immediately after this a shot from the "Winona" entered the cabin 
and passed through the pantry ; an xi. inch shell from the "Oneida" 
exploded close to the port gangway, and seriously wounded the 
vessel. The fire from this vessel, the "Oneida," increased in warmth 
and destruction, carrying away all the standing, and most of the 
running rigging of my vessel. I endeavored to make sail, and 



17 

succeeded so far only, as lettinjv fall the topsails ; several men were 
wounded in the rigging, the sheets and tyes shot away, so that I was 
not enabled to set the sails properly. At this moment I hauled down 
the English flag, under which I was sailing as a "ruse de guerre," 
and gave the order to one of the helmsmen to hoist the confederate 
flag. At that moment he was endeavoring to haul up the foot brail 
of the spanker, and lost his forefinger with a shrapnel shot, so that 
my order in r-egard to the flag could not be complied with. During 
all this time, shell and shrapnel were bursting over us and around us, 
the shrapnel striking the hull and the spars at almost every discharge. 
We made no effort at resistance, for though armed, we were not at 
all equipped, having neither rammers nor sponges, sights, quoins, 
nor elevating screws, and many of the men and some of the oflicers 
sick with the yellow fever, from which disease the 1st lieutenant died 
in twenty-four hours after we got into port. Wlien we anchoi'ed 
under the guns of Fort Morgan, shortly after sundown, the "Florida" 
was a perfect wreck, and only succeeded in escaping by the 
smoothness of the sea and her superior speed. The xi. inch shell 
which came in and passed along the berth deck, entered three inches 
above the water line, and if there had been any sea on, our bilge 
pumps would not have saved the vessel from sinking. An idea of 
the damage done to the "Florida" may be comprehended by the fact 
that it took three months and a half to repair her, of course with the 
limited facilities at our command in Mobile Bay. 

Question by Gapt. Pr-eble. — Had you any subsequent opportunity 
of ascertaining the relative speed of the "Oneida" and" Oreto," 
or " Florida " ? 

Answer. — I did. I passed out of the harbor of Mobile on the 
morning of the 16th of January, 1863, I think, and was chased by 
the "Oneida" [Captain S. F. Hazard, U. S. N., then commanding], 
from daylight until twelve o'clock at night, and found no difficulty 
in escaping from her. The oifly vessel that gave us any annoyance 
was the "Cuyler." 

Question by the Judge Advocate. — When the first shot was fired 
across the bow of the "Florida" or "Oreto," what was your 
distance from the "Oneida" ? 

Answer. — I think about 80 or 90 yards. I got as near as that 
because I was approaching her under English colors with a view of 
deceiving her. 

Question by the Judge Advocate. — When you first made the two 
steamers "Oneida" and "Winona" how did they bear ? 

Answer-. — The "Oneida" was directly ahead of me, bearing, I 
think. Northwest. The bearing of the "Winona" I do not remem- 
ber ; I only paid attention to what I knew to be the commanding 
officer. 

Question by the Judge Advocate. — At this time what was the 
bearing and distance of the entrance of the harbor of Mobile ? 

Ansiver. — Sand Key Light-house bore N. N. W. My impression 
is, that the distance was about seventeen miles. 

Question by the Judge Advocate. — When first fired at by the 
" Oneida," what was the bearing and distance of entrance to the 
harbor of Mobile ? 



18 

Answer. — I should think about thirteen miles, the same bearing. 
I never changed my course. 

Question by the Judge Advocate. — Did you slacken your speed at all 
upon approaching the " Oneida " ? 

Ansiver. — I increased it. 

Question by the Judge Advocate. — How near did you pass the 
"Winona"? 

Ansiver. — I think about six hundred yards. 

Question by the Judge Advocate. — How long after passing the 
"Winona" was it before the shot from the "Oneida" was fired 
across your bow ? 

Answer. — I cannot tell the time ; I don't think over three minutes. 

Question by the Judge Advocate. — Were you hailed by the 
"Winona"? 

Ansiver. — I did not hear any hail from her. 

Question by the Judge Advocate. — Did you inform the " Winona," 
in passing, of the assumed name and character of your vessel ? 

Answer. — I did not ; if she hailed and any response was made, it 
was not to my knowledge, as I was in the port gangway attending to 
the "Oneida." As I left the "Winona" so rapidly, I considered 
my safe passage dependent only upon passing the " Oneida." 

Question by the Judge Advocate. — When you passed the "Winona" 
how did she bear ? 

Answer. — She was on my starboard quarter. 

Question by the Judge Advocate. — When the first shot was fired 
from the " Oneida," how was she heading ? 

Ansiver. — She was apparently trying to cross my bow, I thought 
at first with the intention of running me down. 

Question by the Judge Advocate. — Did any other vessel besides the 
"Oneida" and "Winona" take part in the chase of the "Florida" 
or "Oreto"? 

Ansiver. — Yes, an armed schooner approached me on the port 
beam, and fired several shots into me ; the damage received from her 
was principally in my spars ; she tacked out of the way of the 
"Oneida" and ceased firing. 

Question by the Judge Advocate. — What was the draft of the 
"Florida" ? 

Answer. — Eleven and a half feet, which enabled me to make a 
short passage into the harbor by crossing over the tail of the shoal. 

Question by the Judge Advocate. — At the time the broadside was 
fired into the "Florida" or "Oreto," what was your distance from 
the "Oneida" ? 

Answer. — About eighty or ninety yards. 

Question by the Court. — Was more than one shot fired across the 
bow of the "Oreto" or "Florida" from the "Oneida" before you 
received her broadside ? 

Answer. — I think but one shot, so far as my memory serves me. 

Question by the Court. — State how the "Oneida" was heading 
and bearing when her broadside was fired at the " Oreto " or 
"Florida." 

Answer. — She was on my port beam, and heading, I think, about 
N. N. W., nearly the course that I was. 



19 

Question hxj the Court. — When yon passed the " Winona" how far 
distant were you from the " Oneida " ? 

Answer. — Probably four hundred yards or less. 

Question by the Court. — Did or did not the "Winona" fire a 
warning gun for the " Oreto " or "Florida" to heave to, when you 
passed her and was nearest to her ? 

Ansicer. — She did not. 

Question by the Court. — Which of the two, the " Winona" or the 
"Rachel Seaman," did you pass first ? 

Ansiver. — The "Winona." 

Question by the Court. — How near did you pass the "Rachel 
Seaman " ? 

Answer. — About seven hundred yards, I think. 

Question by Capt. Preble. — Is the Log Book of the "Florida" now 
in this or the State Department, the Log Book at the time you entered 
Mobile Bay? 

Ansiver. — It is not in either, it was dropped in 15 fathoms off 
Charleston. 

The testimony of this witness was read over to him, and by him 
pronounced to be correct. The witness then withdrew. 



Circular General Order from the Navy Department., enjoining Caution in ascertain- 
ing ike character of a Vessel before firing into her ; issiied sixteen days 
previous to the Oreto 's running into Mobile Bay. 

Navy Department, Aug. 18, 1862. 

Sir, — Some recent occurrences in the capture of vessels, and mat- 
ters pertaining to the blockade, render it necessary that there should 
be a recapitulation of the instructions heretofore from time to time 
given, and also of the restrictions and precautions to be observed by 
our squadrons and cruisers. 

It is essential, in the remarkable contest now waging, that we 
should exercise great forbearance with great firmness, and manifest 
to the world that it is the intention of our government, while asserting 
and maintaining our own rights, to respect and scrupulously regard 
the rights of others. 

It is in this view that the following instructions are explicitly given : 

First, That you will exercise constant vigilance to prevent supplies 
of arms, munitions and contraband of war, from being convoyed to 
the insurgents, but that under no circumstances will you seize any 
vessel within the waters of a friendly nation. 

Secondly, That while diligently exercising the right of visitation 
on all suspected vessels, you are in no case authorized to chase and 
fire at a foreign vessel without showing your colors, and giving her 
the customary preliminary notice of a desire to speak and visit her. 

Thirdly, Tiiat, when that visit is made, the vessel is not then to be 
seized without a search carefully made, so far as to render it reason- 
able to believe that she is engaged in carrying contraband of war for 
or to the insurgents, and to their ports directly, or indirectly by trans- 
shipment, or otherwise violating the blockade ; and, that if after 
visitation and search it shall appear to your satisfaction that she is in 
good faith, and without contraband, actually bound and passing from 
one friendly, or so called neutral port to another, and not bound, or 



20 

proceeding to or from a port in the possession of the insurgents, then 
she cannot be lawfully seized. 

FourHhly, That, to avoid difficulty and error in relation to papers 
which strictly belong to captured vessels, and mails that are carried, 
or parcels under official seals, you will, in the words of the law, 
" preserve all the papers and writings found on board, and transmit 
the whole of the originals unmutilated, to the Judge of the districts 
to which such prize is ordered to proceed," but official seals 
or locks, or fastenings of foreign authorities, are in no case, nor on 
any pretext, to be broken, or parcels covered by them read by any 
naval authorities, but all bags or other things covering such parcels, 
and duly sealed or fastened by foreign authorities, will be, in the dis- 
cretion of the United States officer to whom they may come, delivered 
to the consul, commanding naval officer, or legation of the foreign 
government, to be opened, upon the understanding that whatever is 
contraband or important as evidence concerning the character of a 
captured vessel, will be remitted to the prize court, or to the Secretary 
of State at Washington ; or such sealed bags or parcels may be at 
once forwarded to this Department, to the end that the proper autho- 
rities of the foreign government may receive the same without delay. 
You are specially informed that the fact that a suspicious vessel has been 
indicated to you as cruising in any limit which has been prescribed by 
this Department, does not in any ivay authorize you to depart from the 
practice of the rules of visitation, search, and capture prescribed by the 
law of nations. 

True Copy : Very respectfully. 

Attest, H. E. Offley, Gideon Welles, 

CLief Clerk. Secretary of the Navy. 

Note. — At the time of the chase of the " Oreto," no order had been issued from the 
Department, or by the Admiral, prescribing the manner of procedure in stopping a 
vessel approaching a blockaded port. The rules prescribed in the Navy Eegulations 
for 1865, pars. 728 and 731, and repeated in the Regulations for 1870, pars. 1013 
and 1016, in relation to bringing vessels to — viz. : first, a blank cartridge ; second, a 
shotted gun aimed so as not to hit ; third, a shot fired at the vessel — vrere, however, 
strictly I'ollowed by me, with the exception that, instead of a blank cartridge, the 
first warning gun was shotted from inability to withdraw the shot without too much 
delay. And these guns were fired in such rapid succession from the same gun that 
only three minutes, as timed by the ship's time piece, elapsed between the first gun 
and the broadside which was tired into the " Oreto." 

The fact that the "Oreto" or "Florida" and "No. 2£0" or the "Alabama" 
was abroad upon the ocean was known at Pensacola and New Orleans, but not on 
the blockade off Mobile, when the " Oreto" forced my blockade. g. h. p. 

The Opinion of the Court of Inquiry, convened by the Secretary of the Navy, 
May, 1872, at the request of Captain George Henry Preble, U. S. N., to inves- 
tigate the circumstances atte7idiny tlie Escape of the Rebel Cruiser ^' Oreto ^' into 
the Bay of Mobile, SejJt. 4, 1862. 

The Court, after a full and mature deliberation of all the evidence, 
find the following facts to be established, viz. : — 

1st. That on the 4th of September, 1862, the U. S, S. " Oneida," 
Captain George H. Preble, U. S. N., and the U. S. S. " Winona," 
Commander Thornton, U. S. N,, comprised the blockading force off 
Mobile Bar, and that, at about five o'clock in the afternoon of that 
day, the " Oneida " being at anchor, and the " Winona " returning to 
her station from speaking the U. S. Schooner " Rachel Seaman," 



21 

which vessel was from Galveston bound to Pensacola, black smoke 
was discovered to the southward and eastward, whereupon at 5h. 
15m. signal was made from the " Oneida " to the " Winona " to chase 
at discretion, and at 5h. 30m. the " Oneida " got under way and 
stood toward the black smoke and cleared ship for action. 

2d. The " Witiona " stood to the Eastward, and soon after, she as 
well as the " Oneida" discovered the black smoke to proceed from a 
Steamer flying the English flag and pennant, and resembling in her 
rig, hull and general appearance, and in all other respects, a gun-boat 
belonging to H. B. M.'s Service, standing about N. W. for the en- 
trance to the main channel of Mobile Bay. She approached and 
passed the "Winona" at full speed at the distance of about six 
hundred yards. 

3d. The " Winona " made no attempt whatever to compel the 
stranger to heave to, neither did she make any signal to the " Oneida " 
indicating her character, assuming from her general appearance that 
she was a friendly National vessel. 

4th. At the time the " Oreto " passed the " Winona," the " Onei- 
da" was about one thousand yards distant in a north-westerly direc- 
tion, directly in the course of the " Oreto," heading to cut her off. 
Captain Preble had also unfortunately and erroneously concluded from 
the general appearance of the " Oreto " and the circumstance of her 
passing the " Winona " unmolested, that she was an English man-of- 
war, and allowed her to approach at full speed and unaltered course, 
without making the usual signal for her to heave to, until she was 
within about from one to two hundred yards of the vessel under his 
command, which had her helm a-starboard, when he hailed her, fired 
three shots in quick succession, the first two across the stranger's 
bow, and the third at his fore-foot. 

By this time the "Oreto" was about on his starboard beam, or a 
little forward of it, and distant not exceeding one hundred yards; 
both vessels standing on parallel courses towards the bar. Immedi- 
ately after the third shot, the " Oreto " continuing on her course with 
unabated speed. Captain Preble opened his broadside upon her, pursu- 
ed her, keeping up a continuous fire at her, until she crossed, by her 
superior speed, Mobile Bar, out of the range of his guns, and he was 
compelled to haul off on account of shoal water, and night ap- 
proaching. 

5th. On the "Oneida" firing the first shot, the " Winona" opened 
fire and continued it upon the " Oreto," and pursued her until she 
was obliged to haul off", on account of shoal water, 

6th. The U. S. Schooner " Kachel Seaman " also opened her fire 
upon the "Oreto" when she was within range of her guns. 

7th. That the fire of the "Oneida" was eflective, as the "Oreto" 
had the greater part of her running and standing rigging shot away, 
which prevented her making sail — received an xi. inch shell between 
wind and water, had one man killed and ten men wounded, and was 
otherwise damaged, and that her final escape from capture or destruc- 
tion was due to her superior speed, and the disabled condition of the 
" Oneida's" boilers and a smooth sea — And the Court are therefore 
of the opinion that the culpability of Captain George H. Preble, U.S.N., 
consists in his omission, in order to avoid showing discourtesy to a 
national vessel, bearing the flag of a friendly power, to warn or com- 



22 

pel the " Oreto " to heave to, on or immediately after she came 
within the ranj^e of the g'uns of the blockading- force under his com- 
mand, and allowing her, under the erroneous conviction that she 
was a Gun-boat belonging to H. B. M.'s service, to approach at 
full speed, and to attain a position in such close proximity to the 
vessel under his command, before warning or using force to com- 
pel her to heave to, as to admit of, and which finally resulted in her 
escaping into the Bay of Mobile. 

In regard to the degree of " culpability " to be attached to Capt. 
George H. Preble, U. S. N., the Court are of the opinion, that his failure 
to take any measures to heave the " Oreto " to, from the time she 
first came within gun-shot range of the force under his command, until 
he fired the first signal gun to heave her to, was, under the attending 
circumstances, and considering his antecedents as an officer, a venial 
violation of duty, and that when it became manifest to him that the 
" Oreto " intended to violate the blockade, he did all that a loyal, 
brave, and efficient officer could do, to capture or destroy her. 

James W. SmRK, (Signed) Wu. Radford, 

Commander U.S.N. Rear Admiral U.S.N. 

Judge Advocate. Senior and Presiding Officer 

of the Court. 



Testimonials of Service in the Western Gulf Blockading Squadron, 



Letters f 7' om Rear Admiral Theodorus Bailey, U.S.N. 

U.S. Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N.H., 
Dec. 15, 1866. 

My Dear Preble, — Your letter received to-day is at hand. I have 
a distinct recollection of the gallant services you rendered in 
command of the "Katahdin" of my leading division at the passage 
of the forts, and capture of New Orleans. 

I regret that important and engrossing duties and events that 
transpired up to the time of my returning as bearer of despatches to 
Washington, prevented my doing ample justice, in my official report, 
to yourself and other gallant spirits of my divisions. 

It will afford me great pleasure, even at this late day, to place on 
file at the Navy Department my impression of your services on that 
occasion. 

Very respectfully, your old comrade. 

Commander Geo. II, Preble, U.S.N., &c. T. Bailey, 

Rear Admiral. 

U. S. Navy Yard, Portsmouth, N. H,, 
Commandant's Office, Dec.2S, 1866. 

Sir, — Commander George II. Preble, U. S. N., reminds me in a 
letter, dated the 14th inst., that 1 have not placed on file at the Navy 
Department, a testimonial of his conduct, while under my command, 



23 

at the battle of the lower Mississippi and capture of New Orleans. 
The omission was caused by the fact that the Commander-in-Chief 
ordered all the reports from Commanders of vessels to be made to 
him direct, instead of to, and through the Commanders of their 
respective divisions. I beg therefore, even at this late day, to 
express my appreciation of his steady and spirited conduct on that 
occasion. The gunboat "Katahdin," under the command of Lieut. 
Commander Preble, and attached to my division of the Red, was the 
fourth vessel to follow me past the forts, and enter into conflict with 
the enemy's fleet above. I believe that he did his whole duty with 
coolness and intrepidity. 

I liave the honor to be, Sir, your ob't serv't, 
Hon. GmEON Wells, Theodorus Bailey, 

Secretary of the Navy. Rear Admiral U. S.N. 



Letter from Major Gen, Benj. F. Butler, U. S. Vols. 

Lowell, Mass., Jan. 19, 1863. 
Dear Sir, — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your 
letter of the 18th inst., together with the pamphlet. I shall be glad 
to bear testimony to your efficiency and vigilance while on service in 
the Mississippi. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
Commander Geo. Henry Preble, Benj. P. Butler, 

Cambridge, Mass. Major Gen. U. S. Vols. 



Letter from the late Rear Admiral H. H. Bell, U.S.N. 

V. S. S. " Brooklyn," off Mobile, Oct. 21, 1862. 
My Dear Sir, — I can state with pleasure, in reply to your letter of 
Oct. 14th, that during the time I was Fleet Captain of the Western 
Gulf Blockading Squadron, you were always prompt, active and 
energetic in the discharge of your duties as commanding officer of a 
gunboat. 

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
Geo. Henry Preble, Esq., H. H. Bell, 

Late Commander U. S. N. Commodore. 



Extract from a Letter from Rear Admiral James Alden, U.S.N. 

U. S. Str. " Richmond," Pensacola, Oct. 15, 1862. 
Dear Sir, — * * As an evidence of my thinking the blockading 
forces off Mobile were properly organized when I relieved you, I did 
not consider it necessary to alter it in the slightest particular. 

As to your energy and zeal in the service, I always thought those 
qualities shone out in a remarkable degree from among those which 
have given you so high a stand among your brother officers in the 
Navy. 

Respectfully yours, 
Commander Geo. Henry Preble, U.S.N. J. Alden, 

Commander. 



Letter from the late Rear Admiral James S. Palmer, U.S.N. 

Flag Ship "Rhode Island," 2nd rate, 

Hamptou Roads, Va., Jan. 7, 1867. 

Sir, — Commander George Henry Preble, in the summer of 1862, 
commanded the U. S. Steamer " Katahdin," which was one of the 
advanced division under the orders of Admiral Farragut, being 
directed to keep up an efficient blockade of Vicksburg ; during this 
period we frequently went up, both night and day, and attacked the 
enemy's batteries, harassing them and preventing them from extend- 
ing their works. On one occasion Commander Preble, by my orders, 
went up at night, and burnt the wharf boat opposite the lower 
batteries, from whence they signalized our movements to the town 
during the night. 

Again, two (2) of my gunboats, stationed below at Grand Gulf, 
were driven off in the night by the enemy's batteries. When I went 
down with the rest of my division, and so vehement was our attack 
that the enemy could not stand to his guns, I also landed and partially 
burnt the town. Commander Preble participated in this afiair, and 
during the whole period he was under my command I always regarded 
him as a most capable and reliable officer. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
Hon. Gideon Welles, Jas. S. Palmer, Rear Admiral, 

Seci-etary of the Navy. Commanding North Atlantic Squadron. 



Testimonials of Service when in Command of the Naval Brigade, 

of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, 

November and December, 1864. 



Letter from Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren, U.S.N., Co7nmander-in- Chief of 
the South Atlantic Blockade Squadron. 

Washington, Aug. 12, 1866. 

Dear Sir, — I have your note in relation to loss of promotion. You 
ask, — "May I claim your endorsement for the time Itvas under your 
command?" You have had it. The service of the Fleet Brigade, 
under yourself and officers, loas of the most meritorious kind. My 
public orders, and the recognition of the General, under whom it 
served, testify to this fully. General Orders Nos. 98, 101, 106 (1864); 
Nos. 3, 62, 65 (1865). Also your own reports, which appear with 
the annual report of the Navy Department. 

I was not myself in action with the Brigade, being in the squadron 
that cooperated with the army ; but was with the Brigade when it 
landed at Boyd's Neck, before a soldier was ashore, and myself 
placed its advanced line with its own artillery, a mile to the front to 
feel the enemy, before the troops had all landed ; and, after some of 
the actions, visited the Brigade, in advanced position near the enemy. 

The losses of the Brigade speak for its service. They and the Roll 
have been published in orders. 

Very truly yours, 

Capt. Preble. J. A. Dahlgren, 

Rear Admiral. 



25 

Rear-Admiral Bahlgren to the Secretary of the Navy. 

Dec. 1, 1864. 

* * * " Nothing could be more satisfactory than the behavior 
of the Fleet Brigade ; the officers and men go to the work with a zeal 
and vigor that is deserving of all praise, and make me regret my 
force is too limited to permit a stronger detachment, for I have more 
howitzers." 

Jan. 4, 1865, he wrote the Secretary : 

* * * "The excellent service performed by the Fleet Brigade 
has fully realized my wishes and exemplified the efficiency of the 
organization. * * * The howitzers were always landed as quickly 
as the men, and were brought into action before the light pieces of 
the land service could be got on shore. I regret very much that the 
reduced complements of the vessels prevented me from maintaining 
the force in constant organization." 



Rear-Admiral Dahlgren to Commander Preble. 
Dec. 26, 1864. 

"You will convey to the Fleet Brigade my appreciation of the 
service it has rendered." * * * "I cannot omit to bear my own 
testimony to the fidelity and zeal with which the officers of the 
different battalions, artillery, seamen and marines endeavored to 
train their men in the few days which the urgency of circumstances 
permitted." 



Rear-Admiral Dahlgrenh General Order No. ^. (Third yearly series.) 

Flag Ship "Harvest Moon," 
Port Royal Harbor, S. C, Feb. 7, 1 365. 

It aff"ords me pleasure to say to the officers and men of the late 

Fleet Brigade, that Gen. Hatch, with whose division they bore a part 

in the recent expeditions up Broad river, has been pleased to write 

me concerning them as follows : 

" I only regret that by leaving, during my absence I was deprived 
of informing them of the high estimation in which they were held, 
not only by myself, but by the entire command. 

"You will confer on me a favor by announcing to the Brigade, that 
its gallantry in action, and good conduct during the irksome life in 
camp, won from all the land forces with which it served, the highest 
praises. The officers, for their gentlemanly bearing and strict atten- 
tion to duty, received from all, the credit justly their due. 

"The harmony that prevailed throughout the command proved that 
if any jealousy had previously existed between the different branches 
of the service, all that was wanting to efface it was a better know- 
ledge of each other. 

"To Commander Preble, Lieut. Commanders Matthews, O'Kane, 
Orosma.n, and Lieut. Stoddard, with whom I was more intimately 



26 

brought in contact, I give my warmest thanks for the support 
rendered me. 

"Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
John P. Hatch, 

Brigadier General Commanding." 

I am well assured that no idle compliment is here meant ; the 
manly, straight-forward character of General Hatch assures you and 
me that every word said is fully intended. It will always be a subject 
of unmixed satisfaction to you all that you had the opportunity of 
drawing such commendation from the gallant vetei'an who in his 
person was your witness. 

John A. Dahlgren, Rear Admiral, 

Com'd'g S. Atlantic Blockading Squadron. 

Extract from Rear Admiral Dahlgren''s General Order No. 62, 
May 9, 1865. 

"After much unavoidable delay, the muster-roll of the Fleet 
Brigade has been printed, and I am thus enabled to make due 
mention of the Expedition to which it belonged. 

"This was undertaken in order to prepare for the arrival of General 
Sherman, who was known to be marching for the coast. 

" The vessels first reached the landing at Boyd's Neck, Nov, 29, 
and the Fleet Brigade was put ashore with infantry and howitzers, 
deployed iu skirmishing order. It soon advanced with the troops 
under General Hatch, and shared in the hard fighting near Grahams- 
ville, * * * 

"With its howitzers the Brigade afterwards held the extreme left 
of an entrenched position until Dec, 6th, when the army removed to 
the Tulafinney, the Fleet Brigade in compan3^ 

"After a successful feint by the 'Pawnee' and the gunboats 
commanding the rebel position on the Coosawatchie, a landing was 
promptly effected on the Tulafinney. Severe fighting followed, in 
which the officers and men of the Fleet Brigade did their full share, 
and lost heavily, 

"The commanding general has since handsomely acknowledged 
the good service, which I have made known in a squadron order, * * 

"The reports of the officers have been forwarded to the Navy 
Department, and it only remains for me to thank Commander Preble, 
the commanders and their executive officers of battalions ; the 
officers, sailors and marines of the Brigade, for the creditable manner 
in which they fulfilled the task assigned them," * * * 

Extract from Rear Admiral Dahlgren^ s General Order iVb. 65. 

June IT, 1865. 

"Late in 1864, Gen. Sherman began that campaign, which would 
of itself place him among the foremost military commanders of 
history, and to facilitate his communication with the ocean, a joint 
movement was made up Broad River by Gen. Foster and a detach- 
ment of steamers from the Squadron, menacing the enemy's own 
communication near Coosawhatchee. 

"The Fleet Brigade was organized from the officers and marines of 



27 

the Squadron, and did good service, participating in all the actions, 
which were often severe. 

"At Boyd's Creek tlie sailors and marines were ashore first, and 
deployed as skirmishers. At Tulafinney the howitzers were rushed 
up to assist the advance, then heavily engaged with the enemy, and 
by a few decisive rounds threw them back." 



Brevet Major Gen. John G. Foster, U.S.A., to Commander Preble, U.S.N. 

Tallahassee, Fla., Nov. 14, 1866. 

My Dear Captain, — Your letter of the 20th ult. came duly to hand 
after a long delay en route, and I am happy to be able to do wliat 
you desire. Your services in command of the Marine Brigade, while 
operating with my force, to favor the junction with Gen. Sherman's 
army, were of very great value. 

At the battle of Honey Hill, and the engagement upon Devaux's 
Neck, toward Pocotaligo, your force aided in a great degree to assure 
our success, and was, in fact, under the peculiar circumstances, 
invaluable. 

The harmony that always marked our intercourse and joint duties, 
was another pleasing feature. 

I sincerely hope that you may be able to obtain some proper 
recognition from your department, for your services in South 
Carolina, and if my poor testimony can be of any service, I trust 
you will use it. 

With kindest regards, very truly your friend, 

Commander Preble, J, G. Foster, 

Boston Navy Yard. Brevet Major Geu. U.S.A. 



Brigadiet General John P, Hatch, U.S.A., to Commander Preble, U.S.N. 

San Antonio, Texas, Oct. 4, 1866. 
Captain, — It gives me great pleasure to acknowledge the valuable 
service rendered by yourself and Brigade on the campaign in South 
Carolina, during tlie Winter of 1864-5. Your Brigade, consisting of 
a Battery of Artillery, manned by sailors, Battalion of Marines, and 
Battalion of Sailor Infantry, landed at Boyd's Neck, S. C, Nov. 29, 
1864, and immediately advanced to a position covering the landing of 
the other troops of the command. It was engaged '"in the bloody 
action of Honey Hill, Nov. 30, accompanied Gen. Porter on his 
expedition to the Tulafinney, and took part in the actions of Dec. 6th 
and 9th, under Gen. Potter and myself. The Brigade was under my 
command about two months, being daily under fire, and exposed to 
all the hardships of a winter campaign. In a letter addressed to 
Admiral Dahlgren, I endeavored to express the feeling of myself and 
command towards the Brigade, whose gallantry and cheerful endur- 
ance of the hardships incident to the season, and the nature of the 
duties performed, had won the good-will and the kind regards of all; 
also to express my appreciation of your own valuable services and 
those of several of your officers. I regret that I have not with me a 
copy of the letter, but it will be found by an examination of the 



28 

orders of the Admiral, having been embodied by him in an order to 
the squadron. 

With every hope of your future success, 

I remain truly your friend, 
Commander Geo, II. Pkeble, U.S.N, Jno. P. Hatch, 

Brig, and Brevt. Maj. Gen'l U. S. Vols, 

Brevet Major Gen. E. E. Potter, XJ. S. Volunteers, to Covimander Preble, U.S.N, 

New York, Dec, 6, 1866. 

Sir, — I take great pleasure in making acknowledgment of the 
efBcient aid, rendered by the Naval Brigade under your command, in 
the campaign made by the troops of the Department of the South, in 
South Carolina, during the winter of 1864-5. 

Your Brigade landed at Boyd's Neck, with the troops under Gen, 
Hatch's command, and accompanied me in the movement on the 
night of Nov. 29th, and took part in the action of the following day 
at Honey Hill, where my Brigade was detached from the command of 
Gen. Hatch to eflect a landing on the Tulafinney. The Naval Brigade 
formed part of the expedition, and in the sharply contested aflFair of 
Dec. 6th, the Marines and Battalion of Sailor Infantry, which had the 
right of the line, bore a conspicuous part. 

In the attack which the enemy made on the 7th of December, your 
Brigade was again engaged, and I remember that the battery of boat 
howitzers, under Lieut. Mathews, were very efficient. 

I had thus every opportunity to observe the gallantry of your 
command in the field, and during the subsequent period of their 
service on shore I had occasion to remark the cheerful readiness 
with which they bore the discomforts and hardships, especially trying 
to seamen. 

Your official relations with Gen. Hatch and myself were always of 
the most agreeable and harmonious character, without any trace of 
the jealousy which has sometimes been found to arise between the 
two services. 

With my best wishes for your success and advancement, 

I am very truly yours. 

Commander Geo. H. Preble, U.S.N. Edward E. Potter, 

Late Brevet Maj. Gen'l Vols- 



Kescue of the Crew and Passengers of the C. A. T. Co.'s Steamship 

" Golden Rule." 



Navy Department, "Washington, Aug. 12, 1865. 
Sir, — I herewith enclose a copy of the resolutions adopted by the 
passengers shipwrecked in the "Golden Rule," expressing their 
gratitude for your eilbrts in their behalf. 

Very respectfully, &c., 
Commander Geo. H. Preble, G. Welles, 

Com'dg U. S. Steamer "State of Georgia." Secretary of tlie Navy, 



29 

steamship ''America," June 30, 1865. 
At a meeting- of the passengers of the "Golden Rule," held on the 
ship this day, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted : 

Resolved, — That we unite in the expression of our deep-felt 
gratitude to Captains Preble and Devins, of the United States war 
vessels "State of Geoi-gia " and "Huntsville," for the promptness 
with which they came to our relief, on learning of our shipwreck on 
a desolate island in the Carribean Sea. 

Resolved, — That to them and the gentlemanly officers of their 
respective ships, we owe a debt of lasting gratitude for their patient 
and unremitting efforts for our comfort ; and that their generous 
conduct has served to increase our just pride as American citizens in 
that noble body of men, the ofiScers of the Navy of the United 
States, of which they are worthy representatives. 

Resolved, — That copies of these resolutions be transmitted to 

Captains Preble and Devins, the Secretary of the United States Navy, 

and to the California press for publication. 

John B, Weller, 

M.A.Edmunds,) a , • Chairman. 

' ^ Secretaries, 



Michael Kane 



:} 



Testimonials to Professional Character, Etc, 



From Admiral David D. Porter, V.S.N. 

Office of the Admiral, Washington, D. C, April 25, 1872, 
Sir, — In answer to a communication I have received from Captain 
George H. Preble, who is to appear before your Board, I take this 
opportunity to state : 

I have known Captain Preble for many years ; he is a gentleman of 
unblemished character, a good officer, and of undoubted gallantry, as 
was evinced by his conduct at the passage of Forts Jackson and St. 
Philip, below New Orleans. The many estimable qualities of Captain 
Preble are appreciated by all who knew him in the Navy. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
Rear Admiral Theodorus Bailey, David D, Porter, 

President Court of Inquiry, Admiral. 



From Rear Admiral Thomas T. Craven, U.S.N. 

Vallejo, Cal., March 13, 1871. 
Sir, — Captain Geo. H. Preble, U.S.N,, has applied to me for a 
letter, to lay before the " Board of Redress." 

Captain Preble has been twice associated with me on duty : on the 
Mississippi in the battles below New Orleans, and the first battle 
before Vicksburg ; and as Fleet Captain and Commander of the Flag 
Ship, during my late command of the North Pacific Squadron. 

Captain Preble is a perfect gentleman, a brave and good officer, 



BO 

"possessing the highest professional qualifications and attainments," 
and in my opinion is second to no one of his rank in the Navy. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
Tlie Hon. Geo. M. Robeson, Thomas T. Craven, 

Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C. Rear Adma-al U.S.N. 



F7'om Rear Admiral Thos. Turner, U.S.N. 

Butler's Island, near Darien, Ga., Feb. 20, 1871. 

Sir, — I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, informing 
me of your intention of seeking redress for the injustice done you, in 
the promotions of 1866, before a Board of Redress, assembled by Act 
of Congress in Washington, and asking me to give you a letter 
expressive of the estimation in which I hold you as an otScer in our 
profession. 

I reply, that I only knew you by reputation, up to the year 1869, 
as an oiBcer of acknowledged worth in the service, never having seen 
you before ; that I found you in command of the ship bearing my flag 
in that year, and that my associations with you, during the whole of 
that time, impressed me with the highest sense of your merits in 
every respect as an officer of decided ability, and a gentleman of 
attainments, having a very practical knowledge of every thing 
appertaining to your profession, and that I felt myself very fortunate 
in finding an officer assigned to that command, whose character I was 
familiar with by reputation, and who proved himself altogether so 
agreeable to me. 

I cannot suppose there can be any difficultj'^ in your case, as the 
only reason assigned for action was a report, founded in error, made 
by Admiral Farragut in regard to the "Oreto," a confederate war 
vessel ; which mistake he afterwards honorably corrected, frankly 
admitting, in a letter which I read, that his report had been made 
under a misapprehension of the circumstances of the case. 

I sympathize with you feelingly in the mortification you must 
experience in being obliged to make such an appeal. I entertain for 
you the highest respect — shall hear of your success (which I do not 
doubt) with unfeigned pleasure, and am. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant. 

Captain George H. Preble, U.S.N. Thos. Turner, 

Rear Admiral U.S.N. 



Frofn the same. 

Philadelphia, April 22, 1872. 

Sir, — I have received your letter informing me that you are to 
appear before a Board which is to investigate the justice of the action 
of ex. -Secretary Welles, in passing over you in the promotions of 
1866, .and asking me to furnish you with a letter to be placed before 
the Board, expressive of the estimate in which I hold you as an officer 
and a gentleman. 

When you addressed me a similar letter last year, to be placed 
before the Board then assembled to redress cases of injustice under 
that action, I wrote you fully of the injustice which I conceived had 
been done you. I don't know that I can say any more now. 



31 

You wore commanding- my flag ship for a length of time in the 
Pacific, closel}' associated with me as a member of my mess. I 
cannot exaggerate my appreciation of you as an officer of distin- 
guished merit. I know nothing of your war record, but, as an able 
commander, a most competent officer, a gentleman of rare qualities, 
of irreproachable character, and I think of the highest attainments in 
your profession, I can speak with unreserved confidence. In fact, 
surveying the range of an unlimited acquaintance with navy officers, 
I do not know one to whom I can concede higher claims to promotion 
than yourself. 

I am sure if Mr. Welles had been at all familiar with your record, 
and general reputation in service, you never would have been whore 
you are now ; after an honorable service of nearly forty years asking 
redress for an injury done you in withholding your promotion to which 
you are so justly entitled. 

Very respectfully, your obedient servant. 

Captain George H. Preble, U.S.N. Thos, Turner, 

Rear Admiral. 



Testimony of Rear Admiral Joseph Smith, U.S.N. , before the Naval Court of 
Inquiry, May 8, 1872, as to the character and standing of Captain Geo. Henry 
Preble as an Officer of the U. S. Navy. 

"I consider him (Gapt. Preble) one of the best officers in the Navy. 
I know nothing to militate against him as an officer and a gentleman, 
I have known him ever since he entered the service. I consider him 
one of the most intelligent and efficient officers in the Navy." 



From Rear Admiral Silas H. Stringham, U.S.N. 

Port Admiral's Office, N. Y., Brooklyn, April 22, 1872. 
Sir, — It gives me great pleasure to say that Captain Geo. H, 
Preble, U.S.N., has served under my command as a Lieutenant and 
as a Commander for many years, at diflerent times. I have always 
considered him an exceedingly efficient officer, always reliable and. 
prompt in the discharge of his duties, and his character as an officer 
and gentleman unexceptionable. 

Hon. Geo. M. Robesok, S. II. Stringham, 

Secretary of tlae Navy. Rear Admiral U.S.N. 



From Rear Admiral Melancthon Smith, U.S.N. 

Commandant's Office, Navy Yard, New York, 
April 22, 1872. 

Sir, — At the request of Captain George H. Preble, U.S.N,, it 
affords me pleasure to forward, for the information of those whom it 
may concern, my high appreciation of Captain Preble as an officer 
and a gentleman, and believe that the officers of the Navy, generally, 
will, with me, bear favorable testimony to his ability in all matters 
connected with his profession. Captain Preble never sailed with me, 
but he was a Light House Inspector in the District adjoining mine 
before the war, and was an Equipment Officer under the Bureau of 
Equipment and Recruiting, whilst I was in charge of the same. 



32 

When he was at sea on the North Pacific Station we had some 
correspondence on professional matters, and from this acquaintance, 
and former association, I formed my opinion as to his ability, 
I am, Sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
Hon. Geo. M. Robeson, M. Smith, 

Secretary of the Navy. Rear Admiral U.S.N. 

From Rear Admiral Chas. Steedman, U.S.N. 

U. S. Navy Yard, Boston, Commandant's OfSce, 
April 23, 1872. 

Sir, — I take pleasure in stating that I have had an intimate 
acquaintance with Captain Geo, H. Preble, U.S.N., since he was a 
Midshipman, and I am happy to say that I have always found him 
efficient and zealous in the performance of his duty, and an officer of 
decided intelligence, and of irreproachable moral character. 
Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
Hon. Geo. M. Robeson, Chas. Steedman, 

Secretary of the Navy. Rear Admiral Commandant. 



From Rear Admiral Wm. Rogers Taylor, U.S.N. 

U. S. Flag Ship " Lancaster," Rio de Janeiro, 
June 5, 1872. 

Sir, — I beg leave to inform the Department that Captain Geo. H. 
Preble served under my command in the North Squadron of the 
Pacific Fleet, about one year, as nearly as my memory serves me. 

I found him to be an oflScer of unusual intellig-ence, and of much 
exact information. His professional attainments are far above the 
average, and his character is unimpeachable. For industrious 
attention to his duty, no officer of my acquaintance can excel him, 
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
Hon. Geo. M, Robeson, Wm. Rogers Taylor, 

Secretary of the Navy. Rear Admiral U.S.N,, 

Late Commodore Commandius North Pacific Fleet 



From Commodore Timothy A. Hunt, U.S.N. 

New Haven, Conn., April 23, 1872. 
Dear Sir, — It affords me pleasure to state that during the years 
1860 .and 1861, while you were performing the duties of executive 
officer of the "Narragansett," under my command, your professional 
character, both as an officer and a gentleman, was to me highly 
satisfactory. 

Yours respectfully. 
Captain Geo. H. Preble, U.S.N. T. A. Hunt, 

Commodore U.S.N. 



33 



Action of the 42d Congress (od Session) upon the Memorial of 
Geo. Henry Preble. 



In the U. S. Senate. 

Dec. 12, 1812. Mr. Hamlin. — I present the Memorial of Captain Geo. 
H. Preble, of the U. S. Navy, who asks that the President may be 
authorized by law to restore him to the rank and position which he con- 
siders his faithful and eflScient war services entitle him to. I present 
the petition and the accompanying' papers in the case, with the request 
that they may be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs, and I 
desire to take this occasion to say that it is a case which 1 have very 
carefully examined, and through misapprehension, through neglect, 
or from some other cause which I do not undertake to characterize 
precisely, as fully explained by the evidence herewith submitted, I 
am clearly of opinion that this oflScer has been very harshly and very 
improperly dealt by, and I ask the Committee on Naval Affairs to 
give an early and careful consideration to the subject. 

Jan. 24, 1873. Mr. Morrell, of Maine, from the Committee on 
Naval Affairs, reported the following Bill (S. No. 1444) to authorize 
the President to appoint Geo. Henry Preble, now a Captain on the 
active list of the Navy, to be a Commodore, which was read and 
passed to a second reading. 

"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America, in Congress assembled : 

"That the President be, and he is hereby authorized to appoint 
George Henry Preble, now a Captain on the active list of the Navy, 
next below Commodore Edward Donaldson, being the same relative 
position on the Navy Register occupied by him for thirty-one years, 
until the promotions of eighteen hundred and sixty-six." 

Feb. 11, 1813. Senate bill 1444 was taken up, and after some 
discussion was read a second time and considered as in Committee of 
the Whole, and was reported to the Senate without amendment, 
ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, read a third time and 
passed. 

In the House. 

March 4c, ISIS. "The next business on the Speaker's table was 
the bill (S. No. 1444) to authorize the President to appoint Geo. 
Henry Preble, now a Captain on the active list of the Navy, to a 
Commodore." 

Mr. Coghlan. — I offer the following as a substitute for the bill : 
Strike out all after the enacting clause, and insert the following : 
"That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby authorized to 
restore Louis C. ISartori, Georire H. Preble, and George H. Cooper, Captains in the 
U. S. Navy, now on the active list, and R. F. R. Lewis, a Commander in the U.S. 
Navy, now on the active list, to their original positions on the Navy Register." 



34 

That is a bill which passed the House, and the Senate sends it 
back with only Captain Preble's name in it. 

Mr. Lynch. — 1 hope the gentleman will not embarrass this bill by 
offering an amendment now. 

Mr. CoGHLAN. — This bill has once passed the House. 

Mr. Lynch. — But the adoption of this amendment must inevitably 
defeat the bill. 

Mr. CoGHLAN. — We can have a conference committee upon it. 

Mr. Randall. — I ask the gentleman to let me move to add the 
name of William Ronckendorff. 

Mr. CoGHLAN. — I cannot consent to that. 

The substitute was agreed to ; and the bill, as amended, received 
its second reading and was passed. 

In the U. S. Senate, 

March 4, 18T3. On motion of Mr. Mokrell, of Maine, the Senate 
proceeded to consider the amendment of the House of Representa- 
tives to the bill (S. No. 1444), and on motion of Mr. Morrell, of 
Maine, it was 

Resolved, — " That the Senate disagree to the amendment of the House to the said 
bill, and ask a conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses thereon." 

By unanimous consent, it was 

Ordered, — "That the conferees on the part of the Senate be appointed by the 
Vice President." 

Mr. Cragin and Mr. Morrell, of Maine, and Mr, Stockton, were 
appointed the conferees on the part of the Senate. 



A message from the House announced that the House insisted on its 
amendment (to S. Bill No. 1444), and agreed to the conference asked 
by the Senate on the disagreeing votes thereon, and had appointed 
Mr. Glenni Scofield, of Pennsylvania, Mr. John M, Coghlan, of 
California, and Mr, Daniel W. Voorhees, of Indiana, managers of 
the same on its part. 



Mr. Morrell, of Maine.. — A conference was ordered on the bill 
(S. No. 1444). The conference is likely to fail for the lack of the 
presence of two of the conferees. I move that the President of the 
Senate fill the vacancies caused by the absence of Senator Cragin and 
Senator Stockton. 

The motion was agreed to ; and Mr. Anthony and Mr. West were 
appointed to fill the vacancies. 

The third session of the 42d Congress expired before further action 
could be had. 



35 



Letters to Geo.' II. Preble after the Adjournment of the 42d 
Congress, Etc, 



From Hon. John Lynch, M. C. 
House of Representatives, Washington, D.C., March 4, 1873. 
Capt. Preble, — I regret, more than I can express, the failure of the 
bill for your relief, which went under in consequence of the friends of 
other officers insisting- upon having thera in the same boat with you. 
I appealed in vain to have your case stand by itself, but no discussion 
could be had on a suspension of the rules, and my personal efforts to 
save you were of no avail. 
Capt. Preble. 

From the same. 

Portland, March 27, 1873. 

My Dear Sir, — Yours of the 20th I found here on my return (25th). 
I wrote Morrell to look after the matter, I had already signed a 
letter to the President. It is an outrage that your bill was not passed. 
I think the President has no power without authority of an act of 
Congress. 

Capt. Preble. 

From Hon. H. Hamlin, U. S. Senator. 

Bangor, March 18, 1873. 

My Dear Sir, — Your letter of the 12th reached me here. Before 
leaving Washington I prepared a letter urgently recommending your 
appointment as Commodore ; it was signed by myself, Morrell, Blaine 
and Hale, all of our delegation then in Washington. It was sub- 
mitted by Blaine and myself, and as earnestly urged as we were able 
to do. I shall be glad if we shall be successful. Mr. Morrell assured 
me if anything more could be done they would do it. 

Capt. Preble. 

From Hon. James G. Blaine, Speaker U. 8. House of Bepresentaiives. 

Washington, D. C, March 20, 1873. 

My Dear Sir, — Mr. Hamlin wrote you, I believe, in regard to the 
letter filed with the Secretary of the Navy, signed by both Senators, 
Mr. Hale and myself, urging that you be promoted to Commodore, in 
view of the fact that both Houses of Congress had recognized your 
right thereto. I have a strong hope that Mr. Robeson will respond 
favorably to our request. 

Capt. Preble. 

From Commodore Wm. Beynolds, U.S.N. 

Bureau Equip't and Recruiting, March 27, 1873. 
My Dear Preble, — I regret very much the failure of your bill, but 
don't see that the President could nominate you without a law 
authorizing it. I hope you will get through unencumbered next 
session. * * * 
Capt. Preble, 



36 



Thanks of Congress recommended by President Lincoln in 1862. 

As evidence that President Lincoln on one occasion considered I 
did my whole duty faithfully and eflSciently, I may be permitted to 
append the following: — Extract from the Proceedings of the 2d 
Session 37th Congress, 1861-62. May 15th, 1862.* 

To THE Senate and House of Representatives : 

I submit herewith a list of naval officers who commanded vessels 
engaged in the recent brilliant operations of the squadron commanded 
by Flag Officer Farragut, which led to the capture of Forts Jackson 
and St. Phillip, city of New Orleans, and the destruction of rebel 
gun-boats, rams, &c.,in April, 1862. For their services and gallantry 
on those occasions, 1 cordially recommend that they should, by name, 
receive a vote of thanks of Congress. 

list. 

Captains. — Theodorus Bailey, Henry W. Morris, and Thomas T. 
Craven. 

Commanders. — Henry H. Bell, Samuel Phillips Lee, Samuel 
Swartwout, Melancthon Smith, Charles Stewart Boggs, John De 
Camp, James Alden, David D. Porter, Eichard Waiuwright, and 
William B. Renshaw. 

Lieutenants Commanding. — Abram D. Harrell, Edward Donaldson, 
Geo7Yje H. Preble, Edward T. Nichols, Jonathan M. -Wainwright, 
John Guest, Charles H. B. Caldwell, Napoleon B. Harrison, Albert 
N. Smith, Pierce Crosby, George M. Ransom, Watson Smith, John 
H. Russell, Walter W. Queen, and K. Randolph Breese. 

Acting Lieutenants Commanding. — Selim E. Woodworth and Charles 
H. Baldwin. 

Washington, D. C, May 14, 1862. Abraham Lincoln. 

In the U. S. Senate. 

Mr. King. — It is not that I design to prevent or obstruct the 
reference of these joint resolutions, when we get the information I 
desire ; but I hope, as the question is now before the Senate, that we 
may have some information from that committee as to tlie position, 
and their intention, relative to the joint resolution which includes the 
name of Captain Bailey, and quite a list of others, referred to that 
committee. 

Mr. Hale. — If it be tlie pleasure of the Senate to hear it, I have 
not the slightest objection to giving the information desired, and 
with their consent I will do it. The sense of the Committee on Naval 
Affairs has been against the passage of that resolution, for the reason 
that the message of the President recommends that the thanks of 
Congress be tendered to about thirty officers, by name, who were in 
the fight at the mouth of the Mississippi River, at New Orleans, 
under Commodore Farragut. By a bill which has passed the Senate, 
every one of these men, some of whom are as low as Lieutenants, by 

* Sec Congressional Globe, part iii. p. 2147 (Senate), and p. 2175 (House). 



37 

this single vote, will bo prolonged upon the active list of the Navy- 
ten years. Now, a House bill comes in with another lot, and I 
apprehend, if we adopt this precedent, we shall have to thank by 
name at least one hundred officers, which will substantially repeal 
the retiring bill. The Senate have already passed, in conjunction 
with the House, a bill tendering the thanks of Congress to Commodore 
Farragut and the oflicers and men under his command, which is the 
usual course, without giving them all by name. The committee, of 
course, will be happy to act as the Senate may desire ; but that is 
the judgment of the committee. — The Con. Globe, p. 3088, 



Letter from Rev. A. P. Peahody, D.D. 

Cambridge, Mass., Dec. 24, 1872. 
"My Dear Sir, — * * * j have read your memorial with 
very great interest. I should have not a moment's question as to its 
success, could the case be tried solely upon its merits ; but in any 
question before Congress I know that there are always certain 
currents of influence wholly independent of truth and right. I 
trust that in your case these currents may set in the direction of 
justice." * * * 

From Commodore Thos. H. Patterson, U.S.N. 

2100 G street, Wasliington, D.C., March 6, 1873. 
Dear Preble, — Permit me to congratulate you on the long deferred 
justice which has now been accorded you. I am sure many, if not 
all, in the Navy heartily join me — certainly the right-thinking men. 
I shall enjoy my present position much more now that you are in the 
one which 2:>'"0j:»e/'/^ belongs to you.* 

From Bear Admiral John Rodger s, U.S.N. 

Commandant's Office, Navy Yard, Mare Island, Jan. 4, 1874. 
Dear Preble, — I have known you since you were a midshipman, 
and have never thought of you otherwise than as a gallant, moral and 
accomplished officer. 

I have ever thought you blameless in the momentary deception of 
the Ovieto, to which you were a victim. Any one may for a moment 
be deceived by a well put on disguise, while if you had fired into an 
Engh'sh man-of-war, without sufficient cause, your error would have 
been deemed a very flagrant one. You showed your readiness for 
immediate action by pouring a most damaging fire into the vessel as 
soon as she passed you. 

I trust you will by this Congress be restored to the place you would 
have held on the Navy Register, had the Ovieto not succeeded in 
running the blockade. 

Very truly yours, 

John Rodgers. 

* This letter, with many more of similar character, supposing the bill for my 
restoration had passed, was received liy me soon after the adjournment of the 42d 
Congress, 



APPENDIX. 



Action of the First Session of the 43d Congress on the Memorial 
OF Capt. Geo. Henry Preble, U. S. N. 



In the U. S. Senate. 

Dec. 5, 1873. Mr, Hamlin. — I hold in my hand the memorial of 
George Henry Preble, of the United States Navy, asking to be 
restored to the position to which he deems himself entitled in the 
Navy. I presented this memorial, or one very similar, at the last 
session of Congress. I commended it to the attention of the Com- 
mittee on Naval A flairs at the time as one of very great merit ; and I 
am glad to say that the Committee on Naval Afl"airs gave it that view, 
and were unanimously of opinion that he should be restored. A bill 
was reported, and it passed the Senate, but it failed of its passage in 
the House ; or rather I ought to say it did pass in the House also, 
but in connection with another bill. I invite the attention of the 
Committee on Naval Afi'airs to early and prompt action upon that 
matter. 

The memorial was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs. 

Dec. 8, 1873. — Mr. Hamlin asked and, by unanimous consent, 
obtained leave to bring in the following bill ; which was read twice, 
referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs, and ordered to be printed. 

A Bill (S. 65). 

To authorize the President to restore George Henry Preble, now a 
captain in the Navy, to his original position on the Navy Register, 
and promote him to the rank of commodore on the active list. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President 
of the United States, by and with the consent of the Senate, 
be, and he hereby is, authorized to restore Captain George Henry 
Preble to his original position on the active list of the Navy 
Register, next below Commodore Edward Donaldson, being the 
same relative position occupied by him for thirty-one years, until the 
special promotions of July, eighteen hundred and sixty-six, and to 
promote him accordingly, a commodore on the active list, to date 
from November first, eighteen hundred and seventy-one. 



40 

Feb. 2Y, 18T4. Mr. SarCxEnt, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, 
to whom was referred the bill (S. 65) to authorize the President to 
restore George Henry Preble, now a captain in the Navy, to his 
original position on the Navy Register, and promote him to the rank 
of commodore on the active list, and the Bill (S. 31) for the relief 
of Captain Louis C. Sartori, of the Navy, and the memorial of 
Commander R. F. R. Lewis, U, S. Navy, praying restoration to 
his original position on the Navy list, submitted an adverse 
report ; which was ordered to be printed, and the bills were 
postponed indefinitely, and the committee was discharged from the 
further consideration of the memorial. 

The Committee in its Report says : they "desire it to be distinctly 
understood that they do not cast any reflection upon any of the officers 
whose cases have been referred to by them. But, for reasons 
named, they feel constrained to recommend the bills hereinbefore 
named be indefinitely postponed. We recommend that the request of 
the memorialist be not granted, and the Committee discharged from 
the further consideration of the subject." * 

* Id reference to this report, the following letters explain themselves : 

From Hon. Lot M. Morrell, Member Naval Committee, U. S. Senate. 

Washington, Feb. 15, 1874. 

* * * * "I am satisfied that your case is exceptionally just and ought to be 
helped ; but the difficulty is that it olfers an opportunity to others to make an effort 
for advancement." 

Capt. Preble. 

From the same. 

Washington, June 2, 1874. 

J\Iy Dear Sir, — You know my views of your case, that it is exceptional and fairly 
entitled to l)e advanced. In this view of it I was permitted to report it to the Sen- 
ate at last Session ; the action of the Senate would prolmbly have been concurred in 
by the House but for the amendment pressed upon it in behalf of another. • I was 
not present at the final action of the Committee. They came to the conclusion that 
it would not do to re-open the whole subject, and that to do so in one case, would be 
virtually to open it to all. This I understand to be the report substantially. When 
printed will send you a copy. 

Capt. Preble. 

From Hon. A. H. Crngin, Chairman Naval Committee, U.S. Senate. 

V7ashington,reb. 17, 1874. 

Dear Sir, — Your case, with that of others, is referred to a sub-committee com- 
posed of Messrs. Morrell, Sargent and Stockton, and I hope they will soon be ready 
to report. In my judgment yours is an exceptional case, but the difficulty is to keep 
it by itself. Others are pushing their claims, claims which I am not willing to re- 
coijnize, but they have their friends. My action last year was f'avoral)le to you, but 
1 could not allow the l>ill to pass as it came from the committee. You may be sure 
1 shall be glad if the matter takes such shape this year, that yours can stand on its 
own merits, and not be dragged down by others. 

Capt. Preble. 

From Rear- Admiral Jos. Smith, U. S. N. 

Washington, D. C, March 2, 1874. 
My Dear Cojimo. — * * * I am astounded that the Senate Naval Committee does 
not look to your case. It is plain never was one like it in the service, and never will 
be again. An officer in command without a spot or mark against him for many 



41 



In the U. S. House of Representatives. 

^pn7 11, 1814. Mr. Gooch, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, 
reported the following bill (H. R. 2897), viz. : 

Authorizing the President to appoint George Henry Preble, now a 
Captain on the active list of the Navy, to be a Commodore. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That the President be, and he 
is hereby, authorized to nominate, and, by and with the advice and 
consent of the Senate, appoint George Henry Preble, now a Captain 
on the active list of the Navy, to be a Commodore on the active list of 
the Navy, next below Commodore Edward Donaldson, being the same 
relative position on the Navy Register occupied by him for thirty-one 
years, until the promotions of eighteen hundred and sixty-six. 

Mr. Gooch. — I ask unanimous consent that this bill may be con- 
sidered now in the House. 

Mr. HoLMAN. — I think it would be unjust to make any distinction : 
all these bills should be first considered in Committee of the Whole. 

The Speaker. — Objection being made, the Bill will be referred to the 
Committee of the Whole on the Private Calendar, 

Saturday, May 1, 18H. The next bill on the Private Calendar 
(H. R. No. 2897), authorizing the President to appoint Geo Henry 
Preble, now a Captain on the active list, to be a Commodore on the 
active list next below Commodore Edward Donaldson, was taken up. 
No objection being made, the bill was laid aside, to be reported 
favorably to the House. It was then in due course read a third time 
and passed. 

When the several bills on the Private Calendar had been g'^ne 
through with, 

Mr, WiLLARD, of Vermont, moved to re-consider the various votes 
by which private bills had just been passed ; and also moved that the 
motion to re-consider be laid on the table. 

The latter motion was agreed to. 

years of honorable service to be cast adrift, at sea, -without a toiv-rope, for a sup- 
posed fault ! Your honorable and gallant service, which you performed immediately 
after your country honorably restored you to duty, should be enough to prompt 
Congress to give you your proper rank vrithout a second thought. I am afraid you 
have not personally tried to indoctrinate the Naval Committees on so just a claim as 
yours. I cannot see how any reasonable man can raise a question against your 
proper rank. The idea of having thus overslaughed a good officer and good man by 
mistake, if nothing worse, should prompt every honest man who could move in the 
matter officially, eager to correct a wrong inflicted upon an honorable and worthy 
man. If I could get up the steps I would try and do something for your cause, but 
I am passe in all respects. * * * 
Capt. Preble. 

From Hon. John P. Stockton, Member Naval Committee, U. S. Senate. 

Washington, June 16, 1874. 

My Dear Commo. — * * <« My ol)jection was not to you or your case, but for the 
interest of tlie Navy as I believed. 1 took the position that the ' Rowan ' board 
should be a finality. I still think so, but have, out of regard for you and the opin- 
ion of others, withdrawn all opposition. I have no doubt your bill will pass." 

Capt. Preble. 



42 



In the U. S. Senate. 

Monday, June 8, ISH. Mr. Mokrell, of Maine, from the Commit- 
tee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred (H. E. No. 2897), 
authorizing the President to appoint Geo. Henry Preble, now a 
Captain on the active list, to be a Commodore, reported it without 
amendment. 

Wednesday, June 10, 1874. On motion of Mr. Morrell, of Maine, 
it was Ordered, Tliat House Bill No. 2897, authorizing the President 
to appoint Geo. Henry Preble, a Captain on the active list of the 
navy, to be a Commodore, be recommitted to the Committee on Naval 
Affairs. 

Wednesday, June 17, 1874. Mr. Morrell, of Maine, from the 
Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was recommitted the bill 
(H. R. 2897), authorizing the President to appoint Geo. Henry 
Preble, now a Captain in the active list of the navy, to be a 
Commodore, reported it without amendment. 

(Evening session, 7.30 P.M.) 

Ifonday, June 2,2, 1874. Mr. Hamlin.-— While the gentlemen are 
looking at that matter, I ask to take up a bill which places 
Commodore Preble according to his proper position in the navy. 

By unanimous consent the bill (H. R. 2897), authorizing the Presi- 
dent to appoint Geo. Henry Preble, now a Captain on the active list of 
the navy, to be a Commodore, was considered as in Committee of the 
Whole. 

The bill was reported to the Senate without amendment. 

Mr. Edmunds, of Vermont. — I move that that bill be indefinitely 
postponed, and on that motion I wish to say a word. I have no idea 
that it will be postponed, but in order to enter my protest, as I do not 
want to take up time by the taking of yeas and nays. I make this 
motion. I have heard something about this case, and believing it to 
be a jumping of an officer of the navy Avhen he ought not to be 
jumped over the heads of others, my only way now is to move that it 
be indefinitely postponed, so that the Journal will show, so far as I 
am concerned, that 1 have no hand in the business. 

Mr. Hamlin. — Before the question is put, I want the attention of 
the Senate for moment. This bill has twice met the approval of the 
Senate. It only restores Commodore Preble to the precise position 
he would be in to-day, but for the action of the Secretary of the Navy, 
and that action has been overruled by a Court of Inquiry. 

The FRK'^inRST pro temjjore. — The question is on the motion to post- 
pone the bill indefinitely. 

The question being put, there were, on a division — ayes 17, noes 19: 
no quorum voting. 

Mr. Edmunds called for the yeas and nays, and they were ordered: 
and being taken, resulted — yeas 14 — nays 23 ; as follows : 

Yeas — Messrs. Alcorn, Cooper, Edmunds, Frelinghnyson, Gordon, 
Hitchcock, McCreery, Rubertson, Sargent, Mercer, Stevenson, Tiiur- 
mau, Wadleigh and Wriglit. — 14. 



43 

Nays — Messrs. Bayard, Boreman, Boiitwell, Carpenter, Clayton, 
Davis, Fenton, Flanagan, Ilagar, Hamlin, Ingalls, Merriman, Mor- 
rell of Maine, Morrell of Vermont, Pratt, Ransom, Schurz, Scott, 
Sherman, Stockton, Tipton, Washbnrn and Windora — 23. 

Absent — Messrs. Allison, Anthony, Brownlow, Bogy, Buckingham, 
Cameron, Chandler, Conklin, Conover, Cragin, Dennis, Dorsey, Ferry 
of Connecticut, Ferry of Michigan, Gilbert, Goldthwaito, Hamilton 
of Maryland, Hamilton of Texas, Harvey, Howe, Johnston, Jones, 
Kelly, Lewis, Logan, Mitchell, Morton, Norwood, Oglesby, Patterson, 
Pease, Ramsey, Saulsbury, Sprague, Stewart and West — 36. 

The Bill was then put upon its passage and passed. 

In the U. S. House of Representatives. 

Evening Sessio7i, June 22, 1874. The recess having expired, the 
House resumed its session at eight o'clock and thirty minutes, P.M. 

A message from the Senate announced that the Senate had passed, 
without amendment — House Bill (2897, authorizing the President to 
appoint Geo. H. Preble a Commodore. 

Mr. Pexdleton, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported that 
the Committee had examined and found truly enrolled — an act (H. R. 
2897) authorizing the President to appoint Geo. Henry Preble, now 
a Captain on the active list of the navy, to be Commodore, when the 
speaker signed the same. 

In the U. S. Senate. 

Jane 22, 1874. A message from the House announced that the 
Speaker of the House had signed H. R. 2897 — whereupon it was 
signed by the President pro tempore. 

Approved by the President. June 23, 1874. 



Navy Department, 

Washington, 9 July, 1874. 

Sir, — In conformity to the Act of Congress, approved 23d June, 
1874, I transmit herewith an appointment as Commodore in the U. 
S. Navy, from the 2d November, 187 1, and to take rank next after 
Commodore Edward Donaldson, the receipt of which you will ac- 
knowledge to the Department. 

Respectfully, 

Geo, M, Robeson, 

Secretary of the Navy, 

Commodore George Henry Preble, U. S. Navy, 

Philadelphia. 



44 

janitetr States of America* 



By direction of the President of the United States, you are hereby 
appointed to the grade of Commodore in the United States Navy from 
the Second day of November, one thousand eight hundred and seventy- 
one, and next after Commodore Edward Donaldson. 

Given under my hand and seal of the 
Navy Department, at the City of Wash- 
ington, this day of , one 

thousand eight hundred and seventy — 

Geo. M. Robeson, 

Secretary of the Navy. 

Commodore George Henry Preble, U.S.N. 

Commandant Navy Yard, 

Philadelphia. 

Note. — Capt. Preble had been promoted to the grade of Commodore, and 
commigsioned as such from June 4, 1874, to fill the vacancy created by the 
retirement of Commodore Louis C. Sartori. His restoration placed him No. 7 
on the Commodore's list, instead of No. 24. The appointment as Commodore, 
from Nov. 2, 1871, is that usually given in the recess of Congress, until a full 
commission, " by and veith the advice and consent of the Senate," agreeably to the 
wording of the law, can be issued vrhen Congress re-assembles. 



45 



Extracts from Congratulatory Letters received after the Action of 

THE 43d Congress. 



From Captain Geo. 31. Ransom, U.S.N. 

"Colorado," Norfolk, Va., June 20, 1874. 
" Dear Preble, — * * * j congratulate you very heartily on the 
apparent certainty of your being restored at last to your proper 
place in the list of Commodores." * * * 

From Commodore Edward T. Nichols, U.S.N.'^ 

XT. S. Navy-Yard, Boston, Mass., June 20, 1874. 
" My Dear Preble, — * * * j -^^^s glad to see your bill reported 
a few days since in the Senate. You know my sentiments, and I need 
not assure you of the pleasui'e I shall feel when you are once more in 
a position to give me an order." * * * 

From the same. 

XJ. S. Navy- Yard, Boston, 

Commandant's OfHce, June 23, 1874. 

" My Dear Preble, — I have just seen in the Congressional proceed- 
ings of yesterday the passage of your bill. Let me congratulate you, 
my old friend, and I need not assure you of the hearty good will with 
which I do it. You have fought the fight well, and well deserve the 
victory won." 

From Rear- Admiral John L. Worden, V.S.N. 

U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., June 22, 1874. 
" My Dear Commodore, — First, let me offer you my congratulations 
on your promotion, which I do most heartily." 

From Lieut. Col. Jas. H. Jones, U.S.M.C. 

Marine Barracks, Boston, June 23, 1874. 
My Dear Preble, — Justice is done at last. I have just been in- 
formed by a mutual friend that your bill has at last passed both Houses 
of Congress. All I can say is, I exult — let me be among the first to 
congratulate you upon the result. All of your friends knew full well 
how outrageously you have been treated, and how worthy you are of 
any and all honors the Department could bestow upon you. 

From Captain W. W. Low, U.S.N. 

Rec'g Ship Vermont, New York, June 23, 1874. 
"My Dear Commodore, — Permit me to offer hearty congratulations, 
that Congress has at last done you justice. Your restoration to rank 
must be the more gratifying to your friends because accomplished iu 
spite of so much opposition. I believe the service generally sympa- 
thizes with you, and will be glad that you have your proper place upon 
the Register." 

* Those marked thus (*) were promoted over me in 1866. 



46 

From Mr. Alex. 31. Massie. 

Boston Navy-Yard, June 23, 187-i. 
"I hare just seen Doctor Morris, and he, with a number of others, 
send their congratulations on your further promotion, which is in the 
morning papers. Please accept mine; I knew you would get it. 
* * * Everybody wants me to send you their good wishes, &c. Rev, 
Dr. Lambert, Capt. Cullem, U.S M.C., John Ferguson, and more of 
them, are well pleased that you have been successful." 

From Col. A. H. Royt, and John Ward Dean, Esq. 

18 Somerset St., Boston, Mass., June 23, 1874. 
"Dear Sir, — We were rejoiced to read in the morning papers that 
the bill to restore you to your i-ightful place, from which you were 
unjustly displaced, and for which you have so long and so bravely 
contended, has at last, by the honorable, persistent and successful 
eflbrts of Senators Hamlin and Morrell, and Representative Gooch, 
passed the Congress and become a law. Accept our hearty con- 
gratulations on this result, and our best wishes for your prosperity. 
May your professional career be as honorable and as useful in the 
future as it has been in the past." 

From Bear-Adm'l Wm. Reynolds, U.S.N. 

Washington, June 24, 1874. 
" My Dear Commodore, — I congratulate you upon attaining your old 
place in the service. I can see no difficulty in the way of your name 
appearing in its former position in the July Register." 

From Commander Frederick V. McNair, U.S.N. 

U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., June 24, 1874. 
" Please accept my congratulations upon your restoration. The 
sympathy of all the better class of naval officers has been with you, 
especially those who were attached to the West Gulf Blockading 
squadron, and they will all be glad," 

From Rev. Thos. R. Lambert, D.D. 

Charlestown, St. John's Day, 1874. 
" My Dear Preble, — My heart has been made glad that justice 
has been done you, in giving you your rightful place on the Navy 
Register. Magna est Veritas, et 2orcevalebit. Laus Deo. I have just 
parted with Col. Jones, and he told me he had written you giving 
his congratulations. All your friends I'ejoice at your success. May 
you live many years to enjoy your richly deserved honors," 

From Lieut. J. F. Merry, U.S.N. 

Boston, June 24, 1874. 
" Dear Sir, — • I was very much pleased this morning to hear that 
Congress had reinstated you to your original position in the Navy. 
Please accept my warmest congratulations." 



47 

From Rear-Admiral Chas. Sfeedman. 

Somerset Club, June 25, 1874. 
Dear Preble, — * * * I cong-ratiilate you on your having justice 
done you at last. God knows it is time you should. * * * 

From Covimodore G. H. B. Caldwell, U.S.N. 

U. S. Naval Rendezvous, Boston, June 26, 1874. 
" Dear Preble, — I am glad you have at last got your old position. 
Your case was a peculiar and very hard one. I congratulate you on 
your success, and I am sorry you have been obliged to work so many 
years to achieve it." 

From Geo. A. Whiting, Esq., of Gharleafown, J/as.s. 

Boston, June 26, 1874. 
" Dear Friend, — We were all delighted last evening to hear that 
your bill had 'passed.' * * * You have ' fought a good fight,' and 
all your friends to whom I have mentioned the good news congratulate 
you on your pluck and perseverance, and seem pleased to learn that 
justice will be some consolation for the years of anxiety and wrong 
which has been done to you and j^ours." 

From Gommodore- John G.Howell, U.S.N.* 
Commandant's Office, Navj' Yard, Portsmouth, N. H., June 27, 1874. 
"My Dear Old Friend, — Allow me to congratulate you on your 
restoration to rank, which I do most heartily." 

From Commodore Donald IIcN. Fairfax, U.S.N.* 

Mt. Holly, N. J., June 27, 1874. 

"Dear Preble, — Justice has at last been granted you. I am re- 
joiced, my dear fellow, that you have gained what you have so long 
contended for, your rightful place on the Navy Kegister. From the 
first I felt with you, yet I did no more than throw my voice in favor 
oT your being restored to the same. I liad no influence outside the 
Navy. 1 could do no more than express my opinion, which I did not 
foil to do. I want to see nice justice done to all, and especially to 
men like yourself, who have always been a credit to the Navy." 

From Commodore S. D. Trenchard , V.S.N. 

Tompldnsville, N. Y., June 30, 1874. 
" My Dear Preble, — I am happy in congratulating you on your pro- 
motion, and in having gained your proper position on tlie Navy list." 

From Commander James A. Greer, U.S.N. 

Annapolis, Md., July 1, 1874. 
" My Dear Commodore, — * * * j rejoiced greatly when I learned 
of your final success in Congress. I have never heard one dissenting 
voice as to the justice of your claim. * * * Judges Bartol and 
Grason were much pleased to know of your success." 



48 

From Captain Stephen B. Luce, U.S.N. 

Boston, July 1, 1874. 
" Many congratulations to Commodore Preble ! ! This is about the 
third time 1 have tried it. 1 hope there is no mistake now." 

From R. B. Forbes, Esq. 

Milton, July 2, 1874. 
"My Dkar Sir, — * * Allow me to congratulate you 'any 
way' in getting back to the position you would have been iu had not 
the unfortunate incident of the Oreto occurred." 

From Cvmmodore Reed Werden, U.S.N. 

Comdt's Office, New London, July 2, 1874. 
" My Dear Preble, — I have been prevented from telling you sooner 
how glad Mrs. W. and myself were made by your promotion and 
restoration to your old and rightful place on the Naval Register, and. 
our sincere wish to see you soon a Rear-Admiral. 

From Capt. Clark H. Wells, U.S.N. 

U. S. Navy-Yard, Boston, July 2, 1874. 
" My Dear Commodore, — * * * I congratulate you on being re- 
stored to your original place, as it must be to you a great comfort." 

From Commander N. H. Farquhar, U.S.N. 

Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md., July 4, 1874, 
"My Dear Commodore, — I congratulate you most sincerely on 
having justice meted out to you at last. What a relief it must be to 
you after so many years of anxiety ! " 

From John N. Ilaffit, Esq, 

Wilmington, N. C, July 7, 1874. 
" My Dear Commodore, — For some time my people have been much 
interested in you and your bill. The announcement of success created 
quite an excitement, resulting in cheers for Commodore Preble. Ac- 
cept, my dear fellow, my sincere congratulations." 

From Rear-Admiral Jos. Smith, U.S.N. 

Standish House, South Duxbury, Mass., July 10, 1874. 
"My Dear Commodore, — I need not congratulate you on your 
promotion, as you well know my sentiments on the occasion. 1 have 
stuck by you from the date you were thrown overboard, with my 
feeble efforts. I have been to the Capitol but once during the 
session, and then I went chiefly to get the bill on your behalf passed 
the Senate. * * * j gj,^-^ ]\jf. Gooch who worked for you 
faithfully. * * * ]VJr_ Hamlin was very earnest, and Mr. Morrell 
was your firm friend. 1 hope to live to see you an Admiral, but that 
my time of life and my physical inability renders it doubtful. I have 
lived to be the oldest ofiicer in the Navy, but very far from being the 
best." 



49 

From T. C. Sanford, Esq. 

Nantucket, July 13, 1874. 
" My Dear Sir, — I note what has been going on of late, and that you 
are restored to all that you have so long been striving for, — your just 
position before your countrymen ! and I rejoice with you in this long 
delayed achievement, — in this also you have the sympathy of Rear 
Admiral Wm. Rogers Taylor and his good lady, who are here at our 
Ocean House, and desire me to say so to you." 

From Capt. William F. Spicer, U.S.N. 

Key West, Fla., July 19, 1874. 
"My Dear Preble, — * * * j •^pas especially glad to hear of 
your restoration to your rightful place on the Navy list. How simply 
just that is, but how tardy, as usual, has action been ! I congratulate 
you with all my heart." 

From Bear Adm'l Geo. T. Emmons, U.S.N. 

Edgehill, Princeton, N. J., July 20, 1874. 
" My Dear Commo. — * * * Allow me now to congratulate you 
on getting back your proper place on the Navy Register, which was 
a matter well worth all the trouble it may have given you, and I hope 
it will give you a chance for a squadron before you are retired." 

From Benson J. Lossing, LL.D. 

"The Ridge," Dover Plains, N. Y., July 27, 1874. 

"My Dear Sir, — * * * j most heartily congratulate you on 
your promotion to your proper and deserved position, and hope you 
may live to enjoy the honor of unfurling your flag as Admiral over 
the old " Gonslitution" on the 4th of July, 1876." 

From Commodore Thos. H. Stevens, U.S.N.* 

Commandant's Office, Navy Yard, Norfolk, Va., July 29, 1874. 

My Dear Commodore, — Please receive my hearty congratulations 
upon your restoration to your old place on the Register. Your 
efforts have at last, after repeated discouraging attempts, been 
crowned with success." 

From John Walcutt, Esq. 

Frankfort, Ky., July 30, 1874. 
"My Dear Preble, — I lost the run of you for a time, and in 
consequence did not answer your kind letter, but I have since learned 
by the papers of your whereabouts, and I hasten to write in order to 
congratulate you on having justice done you, in being restored to 
your original rank, and placed in so important a command as the 
Philadelphia Navy Yard. K your case had not been so evidently 
unjust, I should have had fears that the last Congress, in its anxiety 
to appear virtuous, would not have restored you, but it being such a 
gross outrage, 1 felt certain they would have to correct it. The 
effect of overslaughing you will be to better your reputation, as it 



50 

has caused an invostigation of your character as an officer and a man, 
and I am sure that it made the blush come to many a cheek that so 
worthy a man should be so persecuted. 'All 's well that ends well.' 
Amongst your numerous friends, I think there is no one that rejoices 
more at your restoration than I do." 

From Ga2}t. S. R. Franklin, U.S.N. 

U. S. S. "Franklin," 
Flag Ship European Station, July 28, 1874. 

" My Dear Preble, — It gave me a very great deal of pleasure to 

see that at last you have been restored to that position which you so 

eminently merit. Amongst your friends none more heartily rejoice 

than do Mrs. Franklin and myself at this piece of good fortune, so 

well deserved." * * * 

From Rear Admiral J. R. M. Mullaney, U.S.N. 

Flag Ship " Worcester," Key West, July 30, 1874. 
"My Dear Preble, — * * I am really glad to hear of your 
restoration to your old place. It was nothing but what is strictly 
7'ight, as both ' Rodgers ' and myself once told the Secretary when 
conversing with him in his office. You would have gone through 
long ago, could you have been kept clear of otliers, who, I 
considered, had no claims." * * 

From Edward G. Anderson, Esq. 

Savannah, Aug. 6, 1874. 
" My Dear Preble, — * * I congratulate you from the bottom of 
my heart on the success of your effort in obtaining your legitimate 
rank in the service. So much for perseverance. You have illus- 
trated my own theory of life, viz. : that ' Every thing is possible to 
him who perseveres.' It is an old motto of mine — one>that I have 
inculcated in the minds of my children from their youth up." 

From Rev. John T. G. Nichols. 

Saco, Me., Aug. 13, 1874. 
"My Dear Sir, — * * Accept my congratulations that justice 
has at last been done you, though tardily," 

From Hon. Edward Young. 

Treasury Department, Bureau of Statistics, Ang. 21, 1874. 
"My Dear Commodore, — * * I noticed the legislation of last 
session with a great deal of pleasure, and I beg you to accept my 
congratulations on attaining your well deserved position," * * 



uyj 



MEMORIAL 



CAPT. GEO. HENRY PREBLE, U.S.N. 



FOKTY-THIRD CONGRESS. 



TV^ITII ^ISr APPENDIX, 



CONTAINING THE 



zVCTIO]:^ OF CONGEE.SS 



AND EXTKACTS FKOM 



COIC-G!-R,A.XXJL^fVXOR,-Y LEXTEFIS. 



BOSTON: 
FUR PRIVATE :^ 1 ST R 1 B UT 1 O N . 

18 7 4. 



^PuBRA^F CONGRtbb 





011 448 884 7 



|fiil 



